USAF crash site

[masonel]

Hi all,

I am investigating a probable WW2 crash site at Moggerhanger Park, in Bedfordshire (UK) - in some woods within the grounds of the house is a shallow crater-type depression, which according to the older local residents is the site of a crash from WW2. All the information they have is that it was a Liberator, and it crashed in 1943 or 1944. Can anybody help me here, or at least point me in the direction of a good source?

Cheers,
Richard

[Laurent Rizzotti]

This webpage

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AFrptsMO.htm

will allow you to browse an accident list for USAAF.

But take notice that only accidents are listed, an aircraft crashing due to Flak damage (for example) won't be listed.

[masonel]

Thanks Laurent - is there something similar for losses to enemy action?

Richard

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Thanks Laurent - is there something similar for losses to enemy action?

Sadly no

You can find database listing the MACR (Missing Air Crew Reports) written by the USAAF but they cover only cases where an air crew get missing (over the sea or in enemy territory) and won't exist in many cases where the aircraft crashed in friendly territory, or if the crew bailed out over friendly territory. Such cases have to be found in the unit diaries and other sources.

So in your case, for a crash in Britain there will be no database.

[masonel]

Ah great... so unless it was an accident, or they went missing (unlikely when crashing in the UK) it won't be out there? And even then, I need to know who crashed there before I can get the report...
Hmmm. Is there an easy way to get access to unit diaries, or am I being overly optimistic?

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by masonel

Hi all,

I am investigating a probable WW2 crash site at Moggerhanger Park, in Bedfordshire (UK) - in some woods within the grounds of the house is a shallow crater-type depression, which according to the older local residents is the site of a crash from WW2. All the information they have is that it was a Liberator, and it crashed in 1943 or 1944. Can anybody help me here, or at least point me in the direction of a good source?

Cheers,
Richard

Would the local newspaper be of any help?

[Tim Osborne]

Hi

If it is an American aircraft then it should be in one of the new 'Losses of US 8th and 9th Air Forces' books (by Stan D Bishop and John A Hey) - there are 2 volumes printed recently and the third and last one weill be printed later in the year.

Vol 1 is from June 1942 - December 1943
Vol 2 is from Jan 44 - March 44
Vol 3 will cover rest of the war.

If you have a slightly better date then let me know and I will look in my Vol 1 book (all I have at moment) and let you know if I can find it there

If it is a British bomber then it will be in one of the 6 volumes of 'Royal Air Force Bomber Command Losses of the second world war' by W R Chorley.

THere are also 3 volumes of 'Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the second world war by Norman L R Franks (I have all of these)

My e mail is timobeanie@cwgsy.net


Regards


TIm Osborne

[Leendert]

Website aviationarchaeology.com gives for 30 Oct 1943 B-24D 42-40246 "Thunder Mug" of 93rd BG "near Bedford".
Pilot Frank Kilcheski. Crashed due to mechanical failures.

This particular B-24 has taken part in the Ploesti raid.

Regards,

Leendert

[masonel]

Kutscha - nice to see a familiar face, and ta for the suggestion. I'll pop down to the library and check it out.

Tim - many thanks for that, if I can get a narrower date than a 2-year span I'll definately take you up on your offer.
Oh, could you look up Thunder Mug, 42-40246 just in case it gives any better deatil than 'near Bedford'?

Leendert - yeah, Thunder Mug is my favourite so far, I am investigating this plane with some guys who are rather keen on the 93rd BG. If they don't know, I have found a way of ordering the MACR report for the crash.


Thanks again for all your help guys.

[masonel]

Just as an update - Tim Osborne has kindly looked up Thunder Mug for me, and it crashed shortly after takeoff at Podington, so is definately not a candidate for crashing in Moggerhanger.

I have checked the local newspapers of the time - nothing. Oddly, they do have details of locals who were KIA and WIA, and of people in the county that were injured in war-related accidents, but nothing about USAF losses / accidents in the county.

I do have a new avenue of hope though - I am checking with the local Council's Historic Environment Record, as they may have WW2 aircraft crash sites listed.