24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, USAAF
 

Has anybody crew details for this aircraft ; 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, 312th Service Group, USAAF, Lymington, Hampshire. Oxford N4759 crashed at Marston Moor on the night of the 14th April 1944.

Pilot - 2Lt James Martin Fisher USAAF. Injured. To SSQ.
? - Sgt Blum. Injured. To SSQ.
? - Cpl Waldon. Serious injuries. Admitted to York Military Hospital.

Re: 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, USAAF
 

The April 1944 unit history of the 24th MR & R Squadron unfortunately is completely silent about this accident (AFHRA Reel A0927, p. 400) and under Casualties in that month it says "negative".
2nd Lt James M. Fisher is welcomed in the ranks on 20 March 1944 and he is described as a "single-engine pilot". He came from the 88th (Air) Service Squadron.
Names of Blum and Waldon not seen in 24th MR & R Sqdn report, so likely assigned to another organization.

In diaries of following months no mentioning of Lt Fisher's return to duty either...

Regards,
Leendert

Re: 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, USAAF
 

Thanks Leendert, Marston Moor's station orb states it was a 105 Squadron, USAAF Christchurch aircraft. Not sure what was at Balderton that needed such around trip.

Re: 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, USAAF
 

Detachment "A" of the 24th was at Christchurch ( "B" was at Lymington) with the 405FG, the Oxford was on ferry duty on the way to the big Air Depot at Burtonwood ; maybe she called at Balderton to collect parts from the 439TCG which was there at the time. It was the receiving centre for Ninth AF TCGs arriving in UK.
Nick

Re: 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, USAAF
 

Hi,
Aboard the plane were 2Lt. James M.Fisher (pilot, O-510463), Cpl.Waldren (eng.) and Sgt.Blum (pas.). The aircraft was ferrying parts and crashed during the landing of a flight from Balderton to Burtonwood. It hit a tree approx. ¾ milef from the end of the runway on final approach, with poor visilibity and dusk had fallen, crashed and burnt.
After the accident the pilot was transferred to 31st T.G., AAF Station 519.

Best regards

Luc