A LONG SHOT - P-51 Mustang crash

[Melvin Brownless]

Hello to all,

We have recently been in contact with an eye witness who remembered a Mustang crash near Rivenhall airfield sometime during the first half of 1944. He said that a group of Mustang's were circling the airfield to land when one of them collided with another and went on to crash nearby. The fate of the other Mustang is not known. It could have crashed on the airfield or perhaps the pilot managed to get the machine down safely.

If anybody knows of a mid-air collision over Rivenhall please let us know via this forum or our website, details below. Many thanks.

Melvin

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/

[shooshoobaby]

Melvin -
The 363d FG , 9th AF was stationed at
Rivenhall 1/44 - 4/44.
397th BG 4/44 - 8/44
Mike

[Peter Randall]

Also a long shot but on 29 February 1944 two P-51s of 363rd FG 381st FS suffered a MAC at Rivenhall. One flown by Harry H Howell belly-landed nearby but I don't have details of the other flown by David H Culberson Jr. Possibly he landed safely. Don't have serials or individual code letters for this incident so if you find them out, perhaps you would be good enough to post the information here.

Peter

[Melvin Brownless]

Thank you Mike & Peter,

I checked the accident reports.com web site for UK crashes on the 29th but nothing about these two guys mentioned!

Regards

Melvin

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/

[Leendert]

According to aviationarchaeology.com there was a MAC over Rivenhall on 21 March 1944.
P-51s involved were 42-102992 with Stewart P. Sullivan and 42-103008 with Edwin G. Watkins Jr. Both pilots were killed.

363 FG/382 FS.

Regards,

Leendert

[Melvin Brownless]

Many thanks Leendert, that information is very useful indeed. We appreciate your effort!

Kind regards

Melvin

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/

[Peter Randall]

Yes, the 21 March looks good but they don't show as Rivenhall in my data. 42-102992 C3-I with Stewart P Sullivan crashing at Scrips Farm/Cut Edge and 42-103008 C3-J with Edwin G Watkins Jr crashing at Upney Wood. Both 363rd FG 382nd FS. Obviously, my knowledge of the geography in the Rivenhall area needs to be improved!

[Melvin Brownless]

Hello Peter,

Thank you for the additional information, extremely useful. Both crash sites are in the vicinity of Rivenhall. Would you happen to know where Stewart Sullivan is buried? Found Watkins buried in the American Cemetery at Cambridge but could not find Sullivan, perhaps his remains were returned home?

Once again, many thanks!

Regards

Melvin

P.S Your website Little Friends is exceptional, keep up the good work.

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety.com/