3 fatalities

C-47 Crash During Operation Varsity Due to Anti-Aircraft Fire (44-77637)

Bönninghardt, GermanyFlight

On March 24, 1945, a Curtiss C-46 Commando (registration 44-77637) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Bönninghardt, Germany in flight. 3 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire. 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

A military transport aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire while departing a combat zone during Operation Varsity, resulting in a fatal crash after an attempted emergency landing.

What happened

The incident occurred while the crew was participating in Operation Varsity. Following the deployment of 22 paratroopers, the aircraft began its departure from the active combat area. During this phase, the plane was struck by German anti-aircraft fire, commonly referred to as flak. The impact caused a fire to break out on the left engine.

Despite the damage, the crew attempted to execute an emergency landing to save the aircraft. However, the plane crashed into a field while fully engulfed in flames. Three crew members were killed in the accident. The source material does not specify the exact registration of the aircraft involved.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by German anti-aircraft fire.