552nd FS P47 lost on 3rd October 1944

[Trevor Matthews]

Does anybody have any information on the loss of P47 from the 552nd Fighter Squadron lost on 3rd October 1944. The aircraft was probably 416628 & came down at Thorncliffe, Leek, Stafordshire.

Any information gratfully received.

Many thanks

Trevor

[Stephane Muret]

Hi Trevor,

According to my files, the plane was an early P-47C, former plane from 78th FG, from 495th FG when lost on october 3 1944 with pilot Quentin J. Sella (killed).

I hope this could help.

Stephane

[Atcham Tower]

Should be 552nd Fighter Training Group, based Atcham, Shropshire. It is said that the pilot was never recovered from the deeply buried aircraft.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Here is what I have on my files:

The P-47C Thunderbolt 41-6628 of the 495th Fighter Training Group was flying above the Peak District as part of a 4 ship formation on a formation flying exercise, in the number 4 position. On entering cloud the formation became split up with the number 1 and 3 aircraft staying together and number 2 and 4 becoming separated. They were directed onto diverging courses by the flight leader to avoid the possibility of midair collisions. In the crash report it is assumed that the pilot, 2nd Lt Quentin J Sella became disorientated as his instruments may have been giving false reading. Because of this he lost control and the aircraft entered either a dive or spin, the aircraft fell into the ground at Thorncliffe in a vertical dive hitting very soft ground, deeply burying itself and killing the pilot.

Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/1939-1945p-47.htm

[Trevor Matthews]

Many thanks for the information.

Regards

Trevor

[paulmcmillan]

http://www.accident-report.com/UK/194410.html