Crash of a Boeing B-17G-50-DL Flying Fortress in Gander: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1944 at 2248 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-6344
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gander – Lajes
MSN:
22567
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft made a normal takeoff from runway 23 (235 degrees) en route to the Azores, rose in a steep climb to 200 to 400 feet in a light rain, when the aircraft’s left wing began to drop as if the aircraft were going to make a diving turn. Witnesses described the dip in the wing as resembling a stall. The aircraft descended at a 30 to 40 degree angle, and disappeared from view behind the trees. It crashed left wing first and exploded immediately in a 200 to 300 foot high flare. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Saul J. Oppenheimer, pilot,
2nd Lt Chester C. Wampler, copilot,
F/O Malcolm H. Hild, navigator,
2nd Lt David L. Harrog, bombardier,
Sgt Warren G. Faulconer,
Cpl Gordon T. Lawson Jr.,
Cpl William Ruggeri,
Cpl Keith M. Shelley,
Cpl Maurice E. Leathers,
Cpl Forrest G. Taylor.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2017/01/25/usaaf-b-17-44-6344/
Probable cause:
The subsequent investigation could not find the cause of the accident, but believed that it was due to an engine stall. The aircraft had had some maintenance done on its flight indicator, but the investigation found that this was not a factor in the crash.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Goose Bay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2171
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dartmouth – Goose Bay – Chatham
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training mission from Dartmouth to Chatham (Miramichi Airport) with an intermediate stop in Goose Bay. Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All eleven occupants were killed.
Crew:
P/O William A. Harris,
P/O John C. Tanner.
Passengers:
Lac Harold A. Stephenson,
Lac Henry H. Bell,
Lac William G. Leard,
A/C Lionel C. Saint Louis,
Cpl Louis C. Foris,
Cpl Clarence N. Cole,
Sgt Myles E. Duquette,
Won Melville S. Wood,
P/O Donald W. Hume.

Crash of a Fleet 50K Freighter in Newfoundland

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Registration:
CF-BXP
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
202
YOM:
1939
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, the seaplane was caught by a downdraft and crashed on a beach. No casualties but the aircraft was wrecked. The accident occurred somewhere in Newfoundland (the exact place remains unknown).

Crash of a Douglas C-54-DO Skymaster in Stephenville

Date & Time: May 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-32942
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
3117/D27
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Stephenville-Harmon Field Airport and was destroyed by a post crash fire. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-54-DO Skymaster near Stephenville

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-37278
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Site:
MSN:
3068
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Anguille Mountains, south of Stephenville. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated Canso off Goose Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9781
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crew became lost during a survey flight, most probably due to a weather deterioration. Pilot ditched the aircraft in the icy Melville Lake located off Goose bay but the aircraft battered by ice flow and eventually sank. The crew left the cabin and found refuge in dinghies. Unfortunately, all attempts made for rescue were unsuccessful and all eight occupants were never found.
Crew:
W. E. McNicholl 7.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-15-VE Flying Fortress in Gander: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 29, 1943 at 1933 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-97493
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Gander – Valley
MSN:
6858
YOM:
1942
Country:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane took off from runway 27 into the wind in 'a normal manner'. It was departing Gander for RAF Valley, Wales. According to the crash report, the aircraft climbed steeply – so steeply that one witness, F/O Fisher, remarked that the climb was similar to that of a single engine bomber rather than a B-17 – to about 500 to 600 feet then banked to the left to turn to the south. At approximately 15 degrees into the turn, the nose of the aircraft dropped suddenly. Cpl. George W. Stiffler witnessed the crash from the Gander Control Tower, and stated that the engines did not appear to be having trouble, with the exception that three engines were exhausting blue flame and the #1 engine was exhausting yellow flame. The aircraft was still in a turn when it crashed. Witnesses and investigators agree that the left wing touched first, the aircraft caught fire immediately, skidded several hundred feet, and then exploded with flames shooting 500 to 600 feet into the air. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Bruce E. Ryan, pilot,
2nd Lt Stephen A. Wooten, pilot,
2nd Lt John J. Gentile, navigator,
Sgt Charles Thayer, flight engineer,
Cpl Frederick A. Norton, radio operator,
2nd Lt Ballard D. McCain, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul J. Lineham, navigator,
S/Sgt Thomas R. Killela, flight engineer,
Sgt Howard W. Nightower, radio operator,
Sgt Daniel L. Boucher, gunner.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2017/01/10/usaaf-b-17-and-thdf/
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-32-3 Liberator II in Gander

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
AL512
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, the aircraft hit a snowdrift, causing an engine to catch fire. The take off procedure was interrupted and the aircraft was stopped on the runway. While there were no casualties, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Cape Harrison

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5130
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
121
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed en route, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft came to rest in a prairie and was damaged beyond repair. The pilot Bernard F. Thompson was slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Fort Pepperrell AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-100496
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Goose Bay – Fort Pepperrell
MSN:
18959
YOM:
1943
Country:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a cargo flight from Goose Bay to Fort Pepperrell AFB located in St John's, with a load of jeep spare parts on board. While on approach in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was too low, hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Two crew members were rescued while the pilot Lee D. Graham was killed.