No fatalities

Aircraft Loss Due to Allied Friendly Fire (42-101093)

Paishuiho, ChinaFlight

On November 20, 1944, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 42-101093) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Paishuiho, China in flight. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was destroyed after being shot down by friendly fire from allied forces. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

An aircraft was destroyed after being struck by allied forces during an engagement, resulting in a crash caused by friendly fire.

What happened

The incident involved an aircraft that was engaged by allied forces during military operations. The aircraft sustained critical damage from the impact of allied fire, which led to a loss of control and a subsequent crash. The event is classified as a result of friendly fire, where units of the same coalition or alliance inadvertently targeted their own asset.

Findings

Official investigations concluded that the primary cause of the accident was the aircraft being shot down by friendly fire. This determination highlights the risks associated with identification protocols and coordination between allied units during active combat scenarios. The findings confirm that the destruction of the airframe was directly attributable to weapons discharged by allied personnel rather than enemy action or mechanical failure.

Probable cause

The aircraft was destroyed after being shot down by friendly fire from allied forces.