CG-4A Crash in the UK,

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Am seeking details of a CG-4A crash in the UK on the 21st February, 1944.
Serial number 42-77432. Crew names were DOELGER Leon C.and HEATH George F.
Glider reported to have been on a training flight and crashed at Fulbeck. Two C-47's seem to have been wrecked in this incident. 42-100507 and 42-24039.
We're there any other fatalities caused by this accident ?
Thanks
Alex

[edwest2]

From joebaugher.com


77432 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Fulbeck (Station 488). Eight C-47s with gliders were ready for takeoff for another training flight 21Feb44. This glider was flying in the end of the formation, the No. 8 position. Take off was normal and the flight proceeded as planned. The glider pilot cut loose from the tow plane a few seconds after No.7 released. It made a normal turn to the left and slowed the glider’s speed with use of spoilers to avoid getting to close to No.7 glider. On the final approach the pilot stayed to the right and to the rear of No.7. It was then it came into the propeller wash causing a loss of 150’. Believing he was still making the proper approach the pilot began holding the glider off the ground as long as possible to make up for the lost altitude. Looking to the ground he could see nothing; it was then that it hit C-47A 42-100507 causing damage to the left wing tip, left wing, left de-icer boot and aileron. Then the glider’s right wing hit another C-47A 42-24039 damaging the left wing and wing tip, the left propeller and aileron and accessory cowling section that swung the glider around the front of the plane causing damage to the right wing leading edge and de-icer boot. The glider damage was: right wing smashed and loose in its connection to the fuselage, left wing badly torn and also loose from the fuselage. Fuselage at the wing boots was bent and torn and the pilots’ greenhouse was damaged slightly. The right hand door didn’t open; the fuselage was slightly bent. The accident investigation concluded that the pilot of the glider failed to release at the proper time and landed short of his objective. Propeller wash may have contributed to loss of altitude but was only indirectly responsible for the accident.


100507 (MSN 18970) to USAAF Oct 22, 1943. 8th AF Dec 5, 1945. .Ninth Air Force. 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Fulbeck (Station 488). Damage to the left wing tip, left wing, left de-icer boot and aileron in collision with Waco CG-4A glider ? 42-774 over Fulbeck 21Feb44. 71st Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Mourmelon-le-Grand (A-80), France. The pilot was leading a small formation into an abandoned grass airstrip at Ergolding (R-73), Germany 9May45. He peeled off into a 180 degree turn and approached the center line of the rather short field. The aircraft touched down, immediately stopped and went tail up ending on its nose. The damaged aircraft was abandoned. Salvaged 10May45.


24039 (MSN 9901) to USAAF Jul 19 1943. Eighth Air Force 2Oct43. Ninth Air Force. 73rd Troop Carrier Squadron [CN*H], 434th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Fulbeck (Station 488). Damaged in collision with Waco CG-4A glider ? 42-77432 over Fulbeck 21Feb44. Damage to the left wing and wing tip, the left propeller and aileron and accessory cowling section, that swung the glider around the front of the plane causing damage to the right wing leading edge and de-icer boot. 436th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Membury (Station 466). Condemned 25Aug46; broken up 1Nov47.

[Alex Smart]

Thank you Ed, I missed that. No mention of ant fatalities though.
Alex

[edwest2]

No, but the level of detail regarding the incident inspired me to post the whole thing.


Best,
Ed

[Leendert]

Alex,
Both glider pilots lived to tell the tale. (Lt Col) Doelger died in 1973 and Heath in 2018.

Regards,
Leendert

[Alex Smart]

Thanks Leendert,, I was looking in hope for maybe ground accidental deaths, glad that there was none.
Alex