AAR 45-3-21-517

Report Summary

Click to view Report
(Note: Depending on Internet speed, this report may take some time to download and display.)
(AAR images from the AFHRA - Air Force Historical Research Agency.)

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-22507 (Douglas A-26C-20-DT Invader)

9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 670th Bomb Sq

Mission # 246; Box: II; Flight: 1; Position: 1; A/C Fuselage Code: F6-Q

Reason: Killed, Mid Air Collision (KMAC)

Damage: Completely destroyed (4)

Point Of Departure: A-69 Laon/Athies, France

Location: 4 miles NW Neerpelt, Belgium (E-350990)

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Rooney, Robert John	Capt	O-026102	KIA
Bombardier/Navigator	Kirk, Robert L.	1Lt	O-761328	WLD
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Kamischke, Robert J.	Sgt	36590630	KIA
Passenger	Slaughter, Chester C.	Capt	O-130160	KIA

Notes:
Pilot's Mission: Combat

Nature of Accident: Mid air collision

Cause of Accident: Pilot error, restricted visibility, and other personnel error.

Description:
Coming back over friendly territory about 25 miles northeast of St. Trond, Captain Andersen, leading the second flight of the first box, was attempting to regain his position in the first box. He slid his plane over the plane flown by Captain Rooney and chewed off its tail. The two planes collided in mid-air and fell to the ground and burned. Lt Kirk, B-N in Capt Rooney's plane, bailed out safely with only minor injuries. All the others were killed in the crash, which happened without warning. Captain Rooney was completing his 65th mission when the accident occurred. The reason for the crash is unknown. Flying with Captain Andersen were Lt W. Babbage, Lt. L.J. Roman, and S/Sgt S.L. Heitell. Captain Rooney had Capt C.C. Slaughter of the Infantry and Sgt. R.J. Kamischke flying with him.
(416th BG History 1945)

That afternoon another mission took off and bombed the Vreden Road Junction and communication center with excellent results. Fourteen of our crews took part. Captain Rooney was leading his flight homeward into the setting sun at about 12,000 feet, when another flight leader, who was also flying into the sun, collided with him. Apparently Captain Rooney tried to get his airplane under control in an attempt to save his crew, but it went into a spin and crashed near Peers, Belgium. All personnel in both airplanes were killed instantly when the aircraft crashed into the ground, with the exception of 1st Lt Robert L. Kirk, Caption Rooney's bombardier-navigator, who successfully parachuted to the ground. Captain Chester C. Slaughter of the 29th Inf Div, who was riding as an observer with Capt Rooney, and Sgt Robert J. Kamischke, the gunner, were killed. Three officers and one enlisted man in the other airplane were also killed. This was Captain Rooney's 65th mission and constituted his tour of combat duty.
("670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History")

See Mission # 246 for additional details