Country
Italy
code

Sicily

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Catania: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-68714
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
11641
YOM:
1943
Location:
Catania
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky'. While approaching Catania, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the Italian Flak and crashed in a field located 10 km south of Catania. All 4 crew members were killed.
Crew (10th TCS):
T/Sgt William Gesek,
2nd Lt Robert C. Malone Jr.,
1st Lt Raymond A. Runzel,
Sgt Peter A. Sheridan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the Italian Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off Gela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-5689
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kairouan - Kairouan
MSN:
7383
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gela
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. While approaching Gela, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed into the sea 3 km off shore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (314th TCG):
Sgt Courtney D. Allington,
1st Lt Harold J. Funk,
T/Sgt William H. Mundy,
2nd Lt Richard S. Steeb.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Scoglitti: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-5691
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kairouan - Kairouan
MSN:
7385
YOM:
1943
Location:
Scoglitti
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Scoglitti, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 5 crew members.
Crew (14th TCS):
2nd Lt Franklin Danyluk,
2nd Lt Robert A. Flack,
S/Sgt Thomas Mathie,
1st Lt William H. Shetterly,
S/Sgt Ray C. Walters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Scoglitti: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23644
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9506
YOM:
1943
Location:
Scoglitti
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Scoglitti, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 5 crew members.
Crew (47th TCS):
Cpl William K. Eccles,
2nd Lt Walter F. Ferchen,
2nd Lt Sabatino T. Lusi,
Cpt Theodore V. Rockwell,
T/Sgt George R. Sanderson .
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Scoglitti: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38624
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4652
YOM:
1942
Location:
Scoglitti
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Scoglitti, after all paratroopers bailed out, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 6 km northwest of Scoglitti, killing all 4 crew members.
Crew (45th TCS):
2nd Lt William D. Botkins,
Cpl James G. Delaney,
T/Sgt Buford E. Durden,
F/O John R. Uphouse.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL off Gela: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23506
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9368
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gela
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. While approaching Gela, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire and crashed into the sea 5 km off shore. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (45th TCS):
Cpt Don Armstrong, pilot,
Maj William N. Dekker,
Cpt Charles M. Dobbins,
Maj Tracy H. Jackson,
M/Sgt William K. Mayo,
T/Sgt Edwin T. Morgan.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in Scoglitti: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23404
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9266
YOM:
1943
Location:
Scoglitti
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Scoglitti, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 4 miles northwest of Scoglitti, killing all 5 crew members.
Crew (12th AF):
1st Lt Gordon J. Benson,
Cpt James M. Millard,
1st Lt Robert C. Porter,
Cpl Russell G. Schluchter Jr.,
T/Sgt William J. Shafer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Scoglitti: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4603
YOM:
1942
Location:
Scoglitti
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Scoglitti, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Out of control, it dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 3 crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Rodney J. MacGregor,
2nd Lt William Henry Morgan,
T/Sgt Howard C. Onstine.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Licata: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18522
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4614
YOM:
1942
Location:
Licata
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. Over Licata, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire, dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all 5 crew members.
Crew (12th AF):
Cpt Richard Churchill,
Sgt Howard T. Flannigan,
F/O Lucien D. Mobley,
1st Lt Milton Ratner,
T/Sgt George A. Singer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Licata: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18606
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4767
YOM:
1942
Location:
Licata
Sicily
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the invasion of Sicily on the operation christened 'Husky 1'. While cruising over Licata, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by friendly fire. Four paratroopers were able to bail out and were later rescued while the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killed all 11 other occupants.
Crew (316th TCG):
2nd Lt Wilbur K. Alley,
1st Lt Peter A. Borsa,
1st Lt James B. Christen,
T/Sgt Cecil Ross Cooke,
Sgt Frank F. Guerner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.
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