C-47 43-48914 crash at Liège, Belgium 26 November 1944

[Lucky Luke]

Hi all,

Can someone help with the circumstances of the accident in which C-47 43-48914 was lost?
It crashed east of Bierset-Liège airfield (A-93) on 26 November 1944. It is quoted on Aviation Archeology as 'killed mid air collision' but there is no obvious second aircraft involved in this accident so I guess it made a safe landing.
One victim was 1Lt Edwin E. Hollon (O-675222). Was he the only victim?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Luc

[RSwank]

He was not the only victim in 43-48914:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...in-earl-hollon
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...oy-a-konietzka
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-wilson-gillie
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...arner-thompson
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...oln-hutchinson


The men in 2nd plane:
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...-oliver-gerdin
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...hony-g-cimmino
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...gene-h-simmons
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...loyd-h-webster

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Luc,


43-48914 and 43-16279 collided during the approach to Bierset airfield.



The crew of both planes were killed in this mid-air collision.


best regards from another


Luc

[Leendert]

C-47 43-16279 not totally lost? Joe Baugher has this one withdrawn from service on 27 Nov 1944 (so a day after the collision), but also that a/c went to the El Salvador Air Force in July 1974..
Also see http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/amer...dor-af-C47.htm

Regards,
Leendert

[KM1957]

The accident report is on roll 46449, report #513 starting around page 1696 and available for free from the USAF Historical Agency as a download). It is pretty brief and to quote, including some spelling errors on the original: This accident is the direct result of an over congested traffic pattern, which is indirectly the result of dispatching over one hundred (100) aircraft to arrive at a field within a very short period of time. Bogged aircraft on the strip prevented the normal landing of aircraft at the time the first aircraft arrived at A-93. Poor radio facilities prevented proper tower control and lowered ceiling and visibility made the pattern lethal. Lack of proper liasion and communications between the strip and United Kingdom are impossible as well as control and diversion of aircraft by strips receiving freight. Recommend more planning and liasion by A-3 and G-3 sections.

Kent

[KM1957]

Sorry--it is report #543.

Kent

[Stig Jarlevik]

Kent

Can you please give details as to how to find this free download?

Cheers
Stig

[KM1957]

Contact the USAF Historical Research Center and ask for the roll in question. The process works very well and turn around time is pretty quick. I have obtained accident reports and unit records for a few years.

Kent

[Stig Jarlevik]

Thanks Kent

From your answer I gather there are perhaps more reels to locate.
I am probably considered to be especially dim when it comes to things like this, but is there somewhere a list of what these reels are (contain) and if yes, a list what they contain?

Feels a bit stupid to contact them and just ask for "the works"

Cheers
Stig

[Leendert]

Stig, go to Airforcehistoryindex.org to find the correct reels. You'll also can find there how to order. The few I've asked for so far came within days. Success! Leendert