Dear Brian,

Here are the details on the C-46 accident report.

C-46D serial 4477654 4 March 1945, 2005 hours
IX TCC, 313 TC, 49th Troop Carrier

Killed in Action:
Pilot, James H. Green 0-807727 2n Lt. ,
Co-pilot, James A. Fenley 0-783942 2nd Lt.,
Engineer, Felix E. Banaszek, 36607479 Sgt. ,
Radio operator, Albert (NMI) Cory 32423259

Of his total flying time of 901:30 hours the pilot had 87 hours in the C-46.

Weather at time of accident Vis. 1-3 miles cloud 7/10 to 8/10 at 1,000 feet, 10/10 at 3,000 feet. Wind north at 8 to 13 mph.
Aircraft was cleared from station 484 to strip B-54 and return, contact glider tow to continent, to tow glider to B-54 and return to Station 484

Pilot became lost above clouds and was shot down by English Coastal defense guns n Humber area.

15 April 1945, Circmstances Involving Loss of C-46D aircraft No. 44-77654 US Army.

Aircraft C-46-D, AAF #44-77654, called letter "Persist 'U' Uncle" with James H. Green, 2nd Lt. Air Corps, 0-807727, as pilot; James A. Fenley, 2nd Lt. Air Corps, 0-783942, as co-pilot; Sgt. Felix E. Banaszek, 36607479, as crew chief; and S/Sgt albert (NMI) Cory, 32423259, as radio operator, departed Station 484 Folkingham, England at 1030 hours, 4 March 1945, towing a loaded CG-13A glider, with B-54, Achiet, France as its destination.

Unfavorable weather was encountered en route but the airplane and glider made a successful landing at B-54. The airplane and crew departed B-54, Achiet, France, at 1550 hours, 4 March 1945, without the glider in tow, for the purpose of returning to their proper station, Station 484, Folkingham, England. At 1925 hours, the Base Communciations Section at Folkingham received a message from the pilot reading "we are lost". The airplane circled Hawkinge, Lympne and Detling airfields southeast of London, England at approximately 10,000 feet in daylight. Shortly before being shot down at 2005 hours, 4 March 1945, by allied anti-aircraft gound fire one mile south of Orfordness, England, PERSISt 'U' (Uncle) called DARKIE and a Royal Observer Corps station picked it up, but ROC could not contact the airplane. Manston heard him call at 1754 hours and at 2000 hours he called Woodbridge for a QDM to Manston. Woodbridge could not contact him and at 2005 hours the aircraft was shot down.

Four objects were seen to fall from the airplane, two with open parchutes. At time of shooting, Radar fixed aircraft at 10,000 feet altitude but ROC tracked the plane at 8,000 feet altitude. Air/Sea Rescue went out at the time the airplane was shot down but the search met with no success as far as has been ascertained to date. At the time the aircraft is believed to have been shot down, an enemy air raid was taking place. The airplane was shot down off the eastern coast of England, one mile south of Orfordness, in the Humber Diver Area, a restricted area over the English Channel which was being crossed by enemy aircraft in bombing raids over England. The weather at the time was insturment weather as follows: visibility 1-3 miles; clouds 7 to 8/10 at 1,000 feet, 10/10 at 3,000 feet; wind north at 8 to 13 miles per hour.

William G. Oliver, Jr.
Major, Air Corp.
Station Accident Officer.
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Pilot could not ascertain his geographical position and evidently could not maintain radio contact with ground stations. He ultimately flew off course over a restricted area where he was fired upon by anti-aircraft guns.
Responsibliity: Pilot error, poor judgement in flying above overcast without navigator, without being capable of utilizing other navigational aids satisfactorily. Pilot erred also in not landing at one A/D which he circled and called in an attempt to orientate himself; presumbably not receiving this station, he flew on and eventually climbed on top of overcast where he became completely lost.

Yours very truly,
Norman Malayney