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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 44-4-21-508 April 21, 1944, Friday
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 44-4-21-508 April 21, 1944, Friday
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(Note: Depending on Internet speed, this report may take some time to download and display.) (AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.) Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-9203 (Douglas A-20G-25-DO Havoc) 9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 671st Bomb Sq Reason: Landing Accident (LAC) Damage: Completely destroyed (4) Point Of Departure: AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England Location: Wethersfield/Sta 170
Notes: Pilot's Mission: Night Transition Nature of Accident: Landing Accident. Cause of Accident: Pilot landed approximately 100 yards short of the end of the landing runway. Narrative: Upon investigating the accident it was found that the nose wheel was completely missing and considerable brush was around the main landing gear struts. The cockpit was normal, however, the flaps were only 1/4 down. After searching at the down wind end of the landing runway it was found that the pilot had landed in a field approximately 100 yards short of the runway. The aircraft rolled along on the two main wheels for approximately 20 yards and on all three wheels for another 30 yards at which point it went through a hedge on the side of a ditch. The ditch and shrubbery jerked the nose wheel and strut out of the aircraft and at the same time the aircraft ballooned. The nose wheel and strut were found approximately 30 yeards from the runway and to the right of it. The aircraft next touched down on the runway. Description: George Cowgill diary entry: "Got hit twice over target. Guess I'll live though. Alerted for tomorrow. Morton missing. Think he is in the 'ditch' at 11:30 P.M. Washed out my final ship tonite. Rust and I are lucky to be alive. Rest of the time is borrowed." (George Cowgill diary) |