Wisconsin

The crew departed Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, at 1500LT on a training flight to Kenneth Ingalls Sawyer AFB (K. I. Sawyer AFB), Wisconsin. The goal of the mission was to test the performances of a new ground reconnaissance radar. While cruising by night at low altitude, the airplane struck trees, stalled and crashed in a dense wooded area located south of Stone Lake. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Curtis E. Robertson, pilot,
1st Lt Darrick R. Negron, copilot,
Lt Col Jack Atherton, pilot instructor,
Cpt Edward E. Kamph, radio navigator,
1st Lt Jerome P. Calligari, navigator,
Maj James H. Crook, navigator instructor,
Cpt Michael J. Dunlap, early warning operator,
A1C Gerald D. Turney, air gunner,
M/Sgt Lonnie Woodard, flight engineer.

The aircraft took off from runway 01 of General Mitchell Fields Milwaukee, Wisconsin, at approximately 1708 for an IFR (Instrument Flight Rules) flight to Winnipeg, Canada. Aboard were Pilot Joseph Laird, copilot Paul Laird, and two passengers, Frederick Miller Sr., President of the Miller Brewing Company, and his son, Fred Miller Jr. As N44M was passing over the northern boundary of the airport, after an apparently normal takeoff, the Mitchell Field Tower Controller received the message, "an engine on fire" and "making an emergency landing." The controller acknowledged this message and the pilot reported something about an engine sputtering. The aircraft which had started a turn to the left at this times was cleared to return to the airport and use air runway. The pilot then reported an engine feathered. As the controller turned up all runway lights to the highest intensity, personnel in the tower observed a mushrooming mass of flame just north of the field. The aircraft had crashed in a nose-down right-wing-low attitude in an open field approximately 3,200 feet north of the airport and west of a projected line of runway 01. Fire of large magnitude occurred after ground impact and continued for several hours before it was completely extinguished. All four occupants were killed.

The aircraft was on a cross-country flight. Following an overnight stop in La Crosse, Wisconsin, due to poor weather, the aircraft departed the next morning for nearby Fort McCoy, to refuel. After refueling, the airplane departed Fort McCoy for Wright-Patterson AFB but during initial climb, the left engine lost power. The pilot-in-command elected to return and completed a turn to the left when the aircraft stalled and crashed. The aircraft was destroyed and all four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lcdr LeWayne N. Felts,
Cpt Phillip M. Clinton,
1st Lt Rory G. Jahn,
Cwo Kenneth Ziegler.

Crashed into Lake Michigan while on approach to Milwaukee Airport. The aircraft was lost but no information about the occupant.

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate remains unknown.

Northwest Airlines' Flight 421 departed from Chicago for Minneapolis at 1550, August 29, 1948. On board were 33 passengers, four crew members, 800 gallons of fuel, and 1,038 pounds of baggage. Total aircraft weight was 38,015 pounds which was within the certificated limit and it was properly loaded in reference to the center of gravity. Weather information available to the flight prior to departure indicated that relatively good flying conditions existed en route with the exception of scattered rain showers and thunderstorms which were in the vicinity of La Crosse, Wisconsin and Rochester, Minnesota. Routine position reports were received from the flight as it progressed on course at Its flight plan altitude of 8,000 feet. At 1655, one hour and five minutes after takeoff from Chicago, the flight reported over La Crosse, 125 miles southeast of Minneapolis, and was at that time cleared to start an en route descent. Four minutes later, at 1659, the flight reported passing through the 7,000-foot altitude level. No indication of any trouble was contained in this transmission. This was the last word beard from the flight. Between 1645 and 1700 several persons in the vicinity of Winona, Minnesota, approximately 95 miles southeast of Minneapolis were watching a thunderstorm which was approaching from the northwest, AS the storm moved over Winona, the wind increased in intensity and considerable lightning and thunder were observed. At this time, about 1705, Flight 421 was seen flying below the overcast. As it passed over Winona, the aircraft appeared to enter the roll cloud or the leading edge of the thunderstorm at which time it was lost from view. Seconds later parts of the airplane were observed falling. It was later found that the flight had crashed approximately 4 miles northwest of Winona on a bluff on the east side of the Mississippi River. All 37 occupants were killed.

While cruising by night bound for Minneapolis, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. Unable to maintain a sage height, the captain decided to descend at 2,000 feet and elected to return to Chicago when the aircraft hit a mountain slope (1,716 feet high) located in Blue Mounds. All four crew members were killed.

While flying in the vicinity of the Volk Field ANGB (Camp Williams) located near Camp Douglas, the C-49 collided with a USAF C-48 registered 42-56611. While the second aircraft was able to land safely, the first went out of control and crashed, killing all three crew members.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Cochrane. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there were no casualties.

Shortly after liftoff, while climbing to a height of some 20 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and impacted the runway surface. Simultaneously, the left engine restarted and the aircraft climbed to a height of 75 feet. At this moment, the right engine failed and the aircraft stalled and crashed past the runway end. Quickly on the scene, rescuers were able to evacuate all eight occupants injured while the aircraft was destroyed. Brand new, it was delivered to Northwest Airlines few weeks ago.