Losses due to tropical storms?

[robert_schulte]

First of all, I hope this is the right place to post that question.

The rather heavy hurricane season during the past few weeks makes me wonder, how many Allied or Axis planes or ships were lost due to hurricanes, tornadoes or other cyclones. Any Luftwaffe planes at all?
Are there any records about this or anything in a book? Anybody out there who knows an interesting story ?
Thanks in advance
Robert

[Graham Boak]

An interesting question - it might be worth adding volcanoes to your list as at least one unit of medium bombers was wiped out in a Vesuvius eruption - B-25s if I recall correctly.

Postwar, in the 1950s, the entire USAF fleet of navigational trainers (also B-25s) was damaged beyond economic repair by a hailstorm in the Mid-West. If I have confused the two events, and it was really Ju 88s that was affected by Vesuvius, then I apologise profusely!

There was a severe tropical storm that affected the Allied fleets in Japanese waters mid-1945. At least one US aircraft carrier suffered important structural damage so I doubt that its aircraft were unaffected. A number of British aircraft were lost from a light carrier in a storm during the Korean war, but that is also outside this board's reference.

[robert_schulte]

Hi Graham,
you are right, they were B-25s. I have some nice pictures of this.
I'd like to add volcanoes to my first post
Robert

[Jim P.]

There were a number of losses in the GQM reports attributable to storms on all fronts.

[John Beaman]

Don't forget the squadron of Avengers lost in "The Bermuda Triangle"...tropical weather or aliens?

The typhoon mentioned above almost cost Admiral Bill Halsey his command. Many ships were severely damaged and several lost. The concensus was, he should have sailed away from the storm's path but was negligent. That storm supposedly set a record that has never been bested: the lowest recorded atmospheric pressure: around 18 inches of mercury!

[Graham Boak]

I should also have added 615 Sq RAF, caught by a tropical storm in NW India in their Spitfire Mk.VIIIs. From memory half were lost - I'll try to find the time to dig it out but it is mentioned in most SEAC histories.