1944 — July 21, 3 USAAF C-47s in 54 C-47 flight lost, Atlantic, 25M off Cape Fear, NC–15
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-30-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–15 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 864.
–15 Wikipedia. “List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1943-1944).”
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At an unknown time after 2200 EWT (0200Z), three Douglas C-47 airplanes disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean approximately 25 miles southeast of Cape Fear, North Carolina. All 15 crewmembers aboard the three transports were missing and presumed lost at sea. Investigators stated,
Three aircraft in the following positions in a mass flight of fifty-four C-47 type aircraft flying in a close formation, V of V’s, number 3 of the first flight of the third squadron of nine aircraft, and number 1 and 2 of the second flight, on right: element, of the same squadron, lost: contact with the squadron leader and failed to make landfall when the leader ordered a 180-degree turn and assembly over the coastline after running into a rainstorm. The squadron leader, upon encountering rain conditions, planned on climbing the flight straight ahead until sufficient altitude (flight had been conducted at 500 feet above the water) was gained for a safe turn but was forced to make a sharp right turn by proximity of another flight crossing his path dead ahead. In making this sharp right turn the ships of his second, or right, element were observed to cross the path of the leading element, passing between number 1 and number 2 of this element, and giving basis for an assumption that members of this second flight might have collided with number 3 of the leading element, or so diverted his flight path that all three aircraft lost flying speed and fell off into the sea. Extended search over the immediate area and the area within 100 miles radius, without locating any trace precluding forced landings and ditchings for other causes. This search was conducted over three days by 40 aircraft, cargo type with multiple observers, two dirigibles and 20 surface craft in combined efforts by the Army, Navy and Coast Guard…. From the testimony given at the investigation it appears … that the three aircraft failed to return from this mission due to a midair collision, stalling in formation and falling into the sea out of control, or flying directly into the sea while on instruments under the influence of vertigo. All three are possibilities. From the meager and conflicting testimonies, it is not possible to draw a more accurate or any further conclusion [as to the cause of the disappearance of the three airplanes].
“The three transports and crews were stationed at Pope Field, Fayetteville, North Carolina.” (Mireless 2006, 864.)
Wikipedia. “List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1943-1944).”
“Three US Army Air Force Douglas C-47’s (42-100712, 42-92115, and 43-30664) disappear while flying at 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The three aircraft lost radio contact with the squadron leader and flew into a storm.[1]
Lost aboard 42-100712 were:
1Lt. William E. Bechelm, Jr., of Illinois,
2Lt. Oakes M. Colwell of New Jersey,
2Lt. Donald W. Copeland of Iowa,
Sergeant Leo C. Fair of Louisiana, and
Sergeant Edward G. Hillman of Pennsylvania.
Lost aboard 42-92115 were:
1Lt. Chris C. Nicorvo of New Jersey,
2Lt. Junior R. Davidson of Oklahoma,
Flight Officer James M. Crew of Alabama,
Staff Sergeant Fred J. Carini of Pennsylvania, and
Sergeant Frank E. Sherwood of New York.
Lost aboard 43-30664 were:
Captain Robert J. Miskell of Ohio,
2Lt. Milton J. Verberg of Michigan,
2Lt. Walter H. Zuidema (origin unknown),
Corporal Roger O. Weston of Massachusetts, and
Sergeant Ben L. Dean of Texas.”
[There are no citations for the named facilities, thus we do not know where this information came from.]
Sources
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2: July 1943 – July 1944). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
Wikipedia. “List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1943-1944).” Accessed 3-30-2024 at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(1943%E2%80%931944)
[1] Cites the Aviation Safety Network. [The ASN cites Mireless, who does not name the facilities, and Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research [and this link goes to an Error 404.0 – not Found page.