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

[BC]

Hi All:

Please excuse my ignorance if this has been covered elsewhere, but I have received an enquiry from Dutch researcher John Hey MBE asking for info on a collision between a Spitfire and a C-47/Dakota in the area of Ashford, Kent, on 10 April 1945. John has suggested the C-47 may have been returning Allied PoWs from France or Germany.

A URL, a clarification or any 'hard' facts on the incident would be welcome.

Regards,

BC

[BC]

Just spotted the item regarding Raphael on the same forum - possibly too many people researching the same incident !

Would nonetheless appreciate an ID on the two a/c involved if known.

BC

[Leendert]

BC and other ones interested,

Just posted this message on armyairforces.com:

Received preliminary word that 2 Lt DeCourval (CP) and Sgt Warren (Crew chief) were on board a C-46 that was involved in the accident on 10 April 1945. Both 2 Lt William Blanton (P) and Sgt Douglas D. Dineen (RO) were killed too. They were with 313rd TCG, 29th TCS.
Death cause for all four is given as DNB: Died Non Battle

The C-46 was on a freight run and no POWs were involved. This may explain that this crash is hardly known?

I hope to hear more, including confirmation of serial.

Still to be settled: on USAAF loss list it says 11 Apr 45 with "Acc Ops" (but indeed 313th TCG), so I wait till this little difference is sorted out.
Anyways, it has likely been 44-77604.

Please also refer to earlier posts with regard to G/Cpt Raphael.

Regards,

Leendert

[BC]

Leendert:

Many thanks for that. Jan Hey has already found up some more info on the C-46, so all the pieces will likely fall into place shortly.

Appreciate your sharing the gen with us.

Regs,

BC

[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

[paulmcmillan]

Air Britian Curtiss C-46 Commando Monograph says

C-36D-10-CU C/N 33000 44-77604 Delivered 19 Dec 1944 8th AF 14 Jan 45 (assigned) Condemned 11 April 45, accident operations

This could still be the other accident that date.. Though Condemned measn written off

[Leendert]

Paul,

Report in my possession that 44-77604 was the C-46 of 10 April 1945. Indeed, USAAF loss list gives 11 Apr 45 as "Acc Ops", but I've found some other examples that turned out to be a day or so off.

Regards,

Leendert