James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

Hi mates,

On 20 August 1944, US Lt James Alston (VOF 1) crashed in the south of France close to the famous castle of Carcassonne (near Penneautier) and he escaped safely.

I think that he was flying a Hellcat that had taken off the US aircraft carrier USS Tulagi (CVE-72) which was based in the Mediterranean see;

Could you help me gather (or confirm) information on this event:

Aircraft type ?

MACR ?

Reason of the crash?

location of crash ?

Thanks in advance, and cheers

GC

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

Gilles,

Some more info here: http://www.history.navy.mil/download/ww2-30.pdf

Lt Alston was shot down in his F6F-5 Hellcat while attacking a transport convoy 5 mi. NE of Carcassonne at around 7 p.m.
As location Pennautier is mentioned elsewhere.
Another website says a/c number was # 18 or rather BuNo 58300.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

Gilles,

This link has some interesting info as well:

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/m...ID=33&MemID=55

Regards,

Leendert

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

His E&E report is here:
http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1408.pdf

Also, Ensign C W S Hulland, (also in a F6F Hellcat) went down and evaded at same time.

http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1407.pdf

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

As far as I know, there were five USN losses in Southern France on August 20, 1944.

VF-74, Kasaan Bay
BuNo 58333, Lt(jg) William N Arbuckle, KIA
BuNo 58109, LtCdr, Harry Brinkley Bass, KIA
BuNo 58307, Ens. C W S Hulland, evaded

VOF-1, Tulagi
BuNo 58300, Lt. James F Alston, evaded
BuNo 58279, Lt David S Crockett, evaded?

Enjoy!

Frank.

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

A photo of David S Crockett with a little of his story here:
http://www.fold3.com/image/270026643/

His story is also given in the link in the second post above (on page 35). He was
actually captured and being held in a fort (at Toulon?). When the Germans decided to
surrender, they apparently surrendered to him.

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

Frank,

Not wishing to drift away from Lt Alston: it appears that Lt Crockett was a POW for just a few days until on 23 Aug the fort at/near Toulon he was held was surrendered by the Germans.

Lots more local info here: http://perso.orange.fr/Patrick.ertel/id8.htm

Regards,

Leendert

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

The combat reports of VOF-1 for the sorties of 20 August 1944 are available on fold3 website.

The report for the sortie during which Alston was lost is there:
http://www.fold3.com/image/287130682/ (and the next three pages)

There is no MACR for US Navy personnel.

Re: James Alston crash on 20 August 1944
 

Thanks guys, et merci aussi;

GC