Lt Homer Sprinkle and Sgt Julius Friend - DNB crash 18 Oct 1943
 

According the 18 Oct 1943 Morning Report of the 37th FS/14th FG based in Tunisia, Lt. Homer Sprinkle and Sgt. Julius Friend got killed in an airplane crash ('Routine Training Flight'). See bottom of https://catalog.archives.gov/id/4544...objectPage=653

Accident not on AAIR or other such sites. 37th FS had P-38s at that time.
Since apparently two men in accident, is there any info (in Squadron Diary?) that points to the circumstances and/or details of airplane?

(Lt Sprinkle was in the 8 Oct 1943 shoot down of a good number of Stukas when FS was detached to Libya for a few days, but NOT subject of this thread).

Any info about 18 Oct 1843 accident welcome, thanks.

Leendert

Re: Lt Homer Sprinkle and Sgt Julius Friend - DNB crash 18 Oct 1943
 

Just in case, both men are buried in USA (see findagrave for war details) and according to the newspapers announcing his death, Sgt Julius Friend died of wounds.

As a Sgt, Friend was probably not a pilot so was probably flying as a passenger in the aircraft flown by Lt Sprinkle. Aircraft was probably a liaison plane, or even a captured Italian or German plane, rather than a P-38. That may explain the absence of accident report.

Re: Lt Homer Sprinkle and Sgt Julius Friend - DNB crash 18 Oct 1943
 

Belated thanks due to the recent hiccups of this forum, but glad in working order again! Crash may indeed have involved a non-inventory a/c. On the other hand, a 'routine training flight' in such an airplane?
Answer perhaps in squadron diary.

Leendert

Re: Lt Homer Sprinkle and Sgt Julius Friend - DNB crash 18 Oct 1943
 

The 14FG had at least 2-- 2-seat P-38s (possibly more among the 3 squadrons and HQ) marked "PB" for Piggy-Back on the booms instead of numbers. Sprinkle no doubt recorded the flight as "training".
Nick