Incident Overview
Date: Thursday 1 June 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota III (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: FZ563
Location: near Myitkyina –
ÿ Myanmar
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Aircraft missing, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: Dakota FZ563 aircraftDakota FZ563 aircraft
Category: Accident
A Dakota FZ563 of 215 Sqn RAF, India, lost contact during a formation flight to Burma. The aircraft was last seen dropping supplies in Myitkyina, Burma, and subsequently dropped supplies at a target location. Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, were present at the time, and the pilot’s attempt to return under the cloud base is suspected.A Dakota FZ563 of 215 Sqn RAF, India, lost contact during a formation flight to Burma. The aircraft was last seen dropping supplies in Myitkyina, Burma, and subsequently dropped supplies at a target location. Severe weather conditions, including heavy rain, were present at the time, and the pilot’s attempt to return under the cloud base is suspected.
Description
Dakota FZ563 of 215 Sqn RAF, India, was one of 18 aircraft which left Sylhet in formation at 06:00 hours to drop supplies in Burma. In company with five other aircraft FZ563 was to drop at position 25.10øN 96.26øE. It was last seen in the vicinity of Myitkyina, Burma, dropping supplies on the target at 08:45 hours. It was raining at the time and weather conditions on the whole route extremely bad. It was assumed that the pilot tried to return under the cloud base. All other aircraft returned safely but nothing further was heard of FZ563 or its crew.
Source of Information
http://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfhttp://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfPrimary Cause
Pilot error/Loss of communication due to adverse weather conditions.Pilot error/Loss of communication due to adverse weather conditions.Share on:
