USAAF drop tank accident. July 1944

[noggin]

To paraphrase : Incident 26/7/44 . Mrs Clara Pearman of Theiville , Catfoot Ln , Lambley stated two aircraft skimmed the house , the 3rd grazed the chimney. She did not see it strike the chimney pot but it was found later displaced. She saw an object drop from the left wing and enter the house through the dining room window. The thing went woof and the house was ablaze. Mrs Pearman stated the flames came out the window onto Ann's baby carriage which was outside the window. An American airman who was one of the pilots denied they were low enough to hit a chimney pot. A second pilot said he had jettisoned his auxiliary fuel tanks as he had engine trouble which caused him to lose height. The engine trouble ceased after the tanks were jettisoned.