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Re: Crash of three C-47A's 26 November 1944
Nick,
My best friend and wellknown air war historian WW2 8th/9th USAAF, offered me the three crash sheets on these C-47s accompanied with more additional information on the accident.
Details of loss: A formation of four C-47s was briefed not to go below 1200 ft. and if weather became too bad to use their alternate field rather than try to reach the assigned destination in France. The Flight Leader contacted the VHF Station at Ashford and was instructed to divert to Manston A/F. However, the Flight Leader disregarded these and his briefing instructions and proceeded on course. He let down below a safe minimum altitude (1,000 ft.) and evidently attempted to fly contact through rain and scattered stratus clouds which covered the hill tops. The Lead Pilot flew into the side of Leith Hill near Dorking in Surrey and crashed. Two other aircraft of the flight also crashed into that hill. The 4th aircraft, flying slightly higher and in echelon to the right saw the flash and pulled up into the clear.
Nick, could send you this info by snail mail; if interested send PM to:
h.weltingATupcmail.DOTnl (replace AT and DOT by obvious).
Regards,
Henk.
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