Compiled 12-20-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–44 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF C-46 engine fire/crash, Taillefontaine, France, 5-23-1945.

–44 Baugher, Joe. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 6-10-2023 revision.

–44 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a…C-46…in Taillefontaine: 44 Killed.”

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87:

“Date: Wednesday 23 May 1945

“Type: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando

“Operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration: 44-77507

“MSN: 32903

….

“Crew: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4

“Passengers: Fatalities: 40 / Occupants: 40

“Total: Fatalities: 44 / Occupants: 44

….

“Location: Taillefontaine (France)

“Phase: Unknown

“Nature: Military

“Departure airport: ?

“Destination airport: ?

“Narrative: Crashed after one of the engines caught fire. Four crew members and forty

wounded American soldiers died in the crash.”

Baugher: “….77507 2/o May 23, 1945 in crash near Taillefontaine, France (engine fire) 44 killed.”

(Baugher, Joe. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 6-10-2023 revision.)

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives:

“Date & Time: May 23, 1945

“Type of aircraft: Curtiss C-46 Commando

“Operator: USAAF

“Registration: 44-77507

“Flight Phase: Flight

“Flight Type: Ambulance

“Survivors: No

“Site: Plain, Valley

“MSN: 32903

“YOM: 1944

“Location: Taillefontaine, Aisne

“Country: France

….

“Crew on Board: 4

“Crew fatalities: 4

“Pax on board: 40

“Pax fatalities: 40

“Other fatalities: 0

“Total fatalities: 44

“Circumstances: The aircraft was on its way to Paris with 40 US and German wounded and

unnamed soldiers on board. Enroute, an engine caught fire and exploded.

The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field near the village of

Taillefontaine. All 44 occupants were killed.”

“Crew: 1st Lt Rex L. Pond,
1st Lt Claude H. Weid,
Sgt Edward Vermillion,
Sgt Edward Hill.”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 87. USAAF C-46 engine fire/crash, Taillefontaine [sic] France, 5-23-1945. Accessed 12-21-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450523-2

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 6-10-2023 revision.

Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Taillefontaine: 44 Killed.” Accessed 12-21-2023 at:

https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-curtiss-c-46d-10-cu-commando-taillefontaine-44-killed

1945 – May 23, USAAF C-46 ambulance flight, engine fire/crash, Taillefontaine, France–44