Spitfire/C-47 mid-air Ashford, 10 April 1945

[Leendert]

From the 29th TCS diary:

April 10 (1945)

"Two incidents occurred today, one with tragic consequences. While flying over England in formation, about 10 miles inland from Dungeness, one of our ships,flown by 2nd Lt. William (NMI) Blanton, ASN 1999347, and co-piloted by 2nd Lt Kendall W. DeCourval, ASN 780884, with Sgt Millard E. Warren, Crew Chief, ASN 39532945 and Cpl. Douglad D. Dineen, Radio Operator, ASN
326711193, collided in midair with a Spitfire, which flew headlong into the formation, apparently not seeing it. The Spit struck the left wing of the C-46 and disintegrated on impact. The C-46 had its wing sheared off and spun to earth with its crew of four all of which were killed instantly. The bodies were recovered by the British and placed in the mortuary at Woodchurch, being later identified by American authorities.
Later in the afternoon a C-46 from the 316th TC Gp, bringing transferred replacements from the group to the 313th, bounced on landing, scraping a wing on the runway. The crew and passengers were shaken up, but no one was injured."

Excerpts from the 29th TCS accident report: collision occurred at 1230, over southeast England, at a point approximately 10 miles inland from Dungeness, at an altitude of 3000'.
Spitfire had approached from 11 o'clock and flying at est. 250 mph.

It is not known whether the Spitfire tried to "buzz" the formation, but when other fighters tried to do so next day with another formation, they were ordered to back off....

Regards,

Leendert