6 fatalities

Supply Mission Aircraft Shot Down Over Poland (CCCP-L870)

Nowy Targ, PolandFlight

On December 21, 1944, a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3) (registration CCCP-L870) operated by Aeroflot - Russian International Airlines was involved in an aviation accident near Nowy Targ, Poland in flight. 6 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter pilot during a supply mission. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

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

A transport aircraft carrying supplies for Polish soldiers was shot down by a German fighter during a mission, resulting in the deaths of all six crew members.

What happened

The aircraft was operating a logistical supply route between Rzeszów and Nowy Targ. The mission involved transporting 1,300 kilos of cargo intended for Polish military personnel. During the flight phase, the transport came under attack from an opposing force.

According to available records, the aircraft was targeted by a pilot flying a German fighter, likely a Messerschmitt model. The impact of the engagement caused the transport to crash. All six crew members on board were killed in the incident.

Findings

Search efforts for the wreckage site did not yield results, and the debris was never recovered. The official investigation concluded that the loss of the aircraft was due to hostile action. The primary causal factor identified was that the plane was shot down by a German fighter pilot.

Probable cause

The aircraft was shot down by a German fighter pilot during a supply mission.