1947 — Dec 10, USAF C-54 crash after takeoff & emer. lndg. request ~Goose Bay, Labrador–23

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-10-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–23  Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters. 1999, p. 44. 

–23  Planecrashinfo.com. “1947. Accident Details…Military-USAF, Dec 10, 1947…”

–23  UP. “Only Six Survive Army Plane Crash in North.” Lowell Sun, MA. 12-11-1947, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Gero: “Operated by Air Transport Command, the four-engine aircraft crashed and burned 8½ miles (13.5km) north of Goose Bay Air Base, from where it had taken off shortly before, bound for Westover Field, Massachusetts, US. Of the 29 persons aboard the aircraft, all of whom were American military personnel except for one civilian, 23 lost their lives. The six servicemen who survived, all with injuries, included one member of the crew. About a minutes after its departure, the crew requested an emergency landing, but the C-54 subsequently crashed into a wooded area in what appeared to be a ‘power stall’ attitude. It was dark at the time and the weather was overcast, with a ceiling of 2,500ft (750m) and a visibility of 10 miles (15km). Although it had stopped before 42-72572 took off, about ½ inch (12mm) of snow had fallen while the aircraft was on the ground, raising speculation as to its contribution to the accident.”

Planecrashinfo.com (Accident Details):

“Date:              December 10, 1947

“Time:             0020

“Location:       Near Goose Bay, Labrador

“Operator:       Military – U.S. Air Force

….

“Route:            Goose Bay – Westover Field, MA

“AC Type:       Douglas C-54D-DC (DC-4)

“Registration:  42-72-573

“cn / in:           10677

“Aboard:         29 (passengers: 25 crew: 4)

“Fatalities:       23 (passengers: 22 crew: 1)

“Ground:         0

Summary:        “The aircraft crashed and burned in a wooded area shortly after taking off from

Goose Bay. Snow falling at the time of the accident was a factor.”

Dec 10, AP: “Westover Field, Mass., Dec. 10 – (AP) – A big Army C-54 transport plane with an undetermined passenger list crashed in snowy wilderness about midnight, just eight miles north of Goose Bay airfield in Labrador with ‘no known survivors.’ A Canadian Press dispatch from St. John’s, Nfld., said it was learned reliably that 29 passengers and the crew, normally made up of five men, were aboard….First reports indicated there was ‘signs of survivors’ but this was later amended to: ‘No known survivors.’

“Stormy weather hampered observation from the air by a Ninth Airforce Reconnaissance plane which reported sighting ‘scattered burning wreckage.’….Ground rescue crews set out at daybreak today but faced tough going over the rugged countryside near the trading post of Northwest river.

“The big plane was capable of carrying 40 – but Westover air officials said it was possible that craft carried only its normal crew of five and cargo.

“The Army said the plane crashed five minutes after it took off from the Goose Bay base at 11:58 p.m. (eastern standard time). Officials reported there was no indication whether the ship took fire.

“The plane was headed for Westover field when it went down in freezing temperature. The Army reported there was heavy snow in the area but it was not snowing when the craft plunged….” (Associated Press. “34 Believed Dead in Crash of Army Plane in Labrador. Rescue Crews Hampered by Snow, Wilderness.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. 12-10-1947, p. 1.)

Dec 11, UP: “Westover Field, Dec. 11 (UP) – The Atlantic transport command [ATC] announced today that 23 persons were killed and six survived when an Army C-54 transport plane crashed and burned near Goose Bay, Labrador, Tuesday midnight. Receipt of the radio message from Col. Paul A. Zartman, commanding officer of the ATC at Goose Bay, was announced at 10:45 a.m. by the Westover Field public relations office…” (United Press. “Only Six Survive Army Plane Crash in North. 23 Killed in Air Disaster, ATC Reports.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 12-11-1947, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “34 Believed Dead in Crash of Army Plane in Labrador. Rescue Crews Hampered by Snow, Wilderness.” Biddeford Daily Journal, ME. 12-10-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-11-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biddeford-daily-journal-dec-10-1947-p-1/

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999. 

Planecrashinfo.com. “1947. Accident Details…Military-USAF, Dec 10, 1947…” Accessed 10-11-2023 at: https://www.planecrashinfo.com/1947/1947-77.htm

United Press. “Only Six Survive Army Plane Crash in North. 23 Killed in Air Disaster, ATC Reports.” The Lowell Sun, MA. 12-11-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-11-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lowell-sun-dec-11-1947-p-62/