French Walrus collides with US L-5 Sentinel -3 July 1944
 

On 3 July 1944 a 1st ERS L-5 Sentinel (no serial known) collided with a French Walrus of 4.S off Ajaccio, Cosica.The L-5 crashed in the Med, with two airmen to regret (DNB): 2nd Lt Carl R. Mingle and PFC Daniel J. Rickwald.

Interestingly, a US and a French text give a slightly different approach to the subsequent rescue mission, meaning that each leave the other out. Or have missed each other altogether because the Americans had left the scene already?
I refer to http://240plan.ovh.net/~flottill/cd/walrus-02.htm (in French) and http://www.dvrbs.com/camden/CooperHo...onHospital.htm both under 3 juillet/July 1944.

French text says a (French) Loire 130 seaplane was called up, and unfortunately hit the Walrus on completion of its landing run on the water. Loire 130 got seriously damaged, Walrus could reach base at Aspretto, sailing (not flying) home on its own power. Loire was towed back to base.

US text says a 1st ERS Catalina was sent out, crew found the Walrus and also noticed a dinghy with the body of who later appeared to be Lt Mingle. The Walrus pilot (Chouillet) was taken aboard the Catalina.

PFC Rickwald is missing since.

Too bad the French text gives no time frame to reconcile both accounts.

Any further details appeciated, thanks.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: French Walrus collides with US L-5 Sentinel -3 July 1944
 

Hello Leendert,

Translation,
On July 3, 1944, an American PIPER plane and a WALRUS of the 4 S piloted by the LV CHOUILLET collide over the Gulf of Ajaccio. The American plane falls and disappears at sea with his 2 crewmen while the WALRUS manages to land off the Sanguinaires. The alert is given. A LOIRE 130 takes off from Aspretto to go on the scene with, on board, in addition to the pilot and the mechanic, the IM DARCHEU chief of the technical service. The LOIRE 130 arises nearby, but unfortunately, at the end of the ditching race, hangs the WALRUS. The latter will regain Aspretto by hydroplaning the engine. LOIRE 130, more seriously damaged, will have to be towed by a BAN speedboat. (from the CV Saint Cast).

Fold3 has the three page MACR, number 16468.
Mingle - O-810921 from Ohio, also has headstone application form.
Rickwald 36593094 from Michigan.
Names to Catalina pilots too but only mentions a Walrus, French pilot and dinghy.
Alex

Re: French Walrus collides with US L-5 Sentinel -3 July 1944
 

The French Walrus is listed as "HD229 : endommage collision en mer a l’amerrissage le 3 juillet 1944", but serial is wrong (that was a RAF P-47D Thunderbolt in SE Asia) and it should almost certainly be HD829, Walrus Mk.II, coded F (nose) and 6 (tail) of Escadrille 4S, finally destroyed in the storm on the ground on Nov 13 1944.

Re: French Walrus collides with US L-5 Sentinel -3 July 1944
 

Thanks for additional info. It looks the USAAF and Aeronavale were in action at different hours for this accident.


Regards,


Leendert