Montana

An engine failed en route, forcing the crew to bail out. The airplane crashed in a mountainous area located about four miles northeast of Philipsburg and was destroyed upon impact. All 12 occupants were rescued.

The flight left Helena at 0753LT, using Runway 29. The flight plan, amended before takeoff, specified an altitude of 10,500 feet MSL under instrument flight rules via Amber Airway number 2 to the Whitehall (Montana) Range Station and from there to the Butte Airport via Red Airway number 2. Also, before taking off, the pilot asked the Helena Tower if the Homestake Fan normally and was informed that Butte Radio advised that it was. Following takeoff from Runway 29, the aircraft was flown in a climbing right turn so that it passed approximately over the Station as it headed south toward the Whitehall Range Station. At 0801 the flight reported to Helena that it had reached its cruising altitude. This message was acknowledged. The next message from the flight was to Butte at 0814 stating that it was over Whitehall (Range Station) at 0811 and starting descent. Butte acknowledged this message, gave that flight the station altimeter setting of 29.97, advised that the wind was south, calm, and that the Weather Bureau advised what the ceiling was lower to the east and north and better to the south and southwest. Flight 115 replied that it had vertical visibility at 10,500 feet. This was the last radio contact with the flight. A search was instituted after several futile attempts to contact the aircraft. On the following morning, the wreckage was sighted from a local search aircraft at about 0900. Ground parties immediately started for the crash site. All debris were found in a snow covered wooded area and all 21 occupants were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances 7 miles northeast of Raynesford, killing all three crew members.

Shortly after a night takeoff from Malmstrom AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie located seven miles northeast of the airbase. Three crew members were killed while nine others were injured.

Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous are located 5 miles southeast of Livingston. Both pilots were found unharmed.

The crew was performing a flight from Fargo to Billings with 21 veterans on board. In flight, the weather conditions at destination worsened and visibility dropped from 10 miles to half a mile due to heavy snow storm. On final approach to Billings Airport, the aircraft was too low, hit a tree and crashed in flames in a snow covered field, 400 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed, four others were seriously injured. Those killed were:
Crew:
Cpt George D. Miller, pilot,
Cpt Vernon Pfannkuch, pilot.
Maj Ray Craft,
S/Sgt Thomas Thomsen,
T/Sgt Glenn Marr,
Sgt Don Haley,
Tec Virgil Kinne,
Tec Warren Parrish,
Lt Anthony Alnsky,
Pfc Clayton Thompson,
Tec Fred Chapman,
Pfc Maceo Hobbs,
Pfc Walter Orchard,
Tec John Marshall,
Sgt Charles Ennen,
Cpl Lorrell Cassell,
Tec Ned Neasham,
Pfc David Gillett,
Tec Adolph Tokie.
Those who survived were:
Tec Emil A. Hasch,
Pfc Raymond Parkins,
Cpl Milford Barnes,
Tec Raymond Emerson.

On landing in Cut Bank, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. It should be delivered shortly to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

While performing a night bombing exercise, the four-engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 6 miles east of Fort Benton. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Jack Y. Fisk,
2nd Lt Arnold J. Gardiner,
Sgt Robert H. Hall,
Sgt John T. Hough,
Sgt Carl E. Lower,
2nd Lt Warren Henry Maginn,
Sgt Chester W. Peko,
Pfc Paul M. Peterson,
Sgt Curio C. Tremonti,
2nd Lt Harold L. Wonders.

After touchdown at Great Falls-Gore Field, the single engine aircraft went out of control and ground looped. There were no casualties.

While flying over Melstone, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. Shortly later, it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of Mt Bull located south of Musselshell. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew (2nd BG):
Ed Layfield, pilot,
Gerald Beem, copilot,
Lewis Newland, navigator,
Chester Knight, bombardier,
Fred Brown, flight engineer,
Hulon Dutton, radio operator,
Chas Valys, air gunner,
Wallace Hanson, air gunner,
Fred Murray, air gunner,
Hobart Hall, air gunner,
Orville Ralston, air gunner.