Mid-air collision of 2 B-24’s over Belgium on 16/04/1945

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,


The Operational Diary April 1945 of 466 BG mentions for 16 April 1945 :
Thirty-seven A/C left the base to attack a railway target at Traunstein, Germany. Due to weather conditions bombing was done at Landshut, Germany, priority #3 target, by H2X, with visual assist. Thirty-five A/C were effective and dropped 328x500# GPS and 22x500# RDX with fair results. Dut to a mid-air collision over Belgium, the ships piloted by Lt. Felber and Lt.Evans did not bomb. Lt. Felber’s ship returned to base with #3 propeller off, while the other ship crashed over Belgium. All personnel on this ship parachuted to safety. Major Pemillett was command pilot. Three A/C sustained battle damage and there were no casualties.

42-50585 was the aircraft which crashed and 44-10591 was the aircraft which returned to base.

Is the crashlocation of 42-50585 known ?

Many thanks and best regards

Luc

[Leendert]

Dag Luc,

It appears there is an accident report for this collision with (vicinity of?) Tournai/Doornik as crash place. See the AAIR website.

Picture of B-24J "Small Change" here: https://www.americanairmuseum.com/ar...craft/42-50585.

Pilot was Capt Paul S. Evans. More names on above website for #585, but not necessarily crew that day. According this website as well, Felber's B-24 had engine problems, causing the ship to drift into the tail of #585, chopping off one of its vertical stabilizers. In the process, #591 lost #3 propeller.

Groet,
Leendert

[Luc Vervoort]

Goedenavond Leendert,


Thanks for pointing me to the existence of a Form 14 for this collision. It mentions that the collision occurred at 50.00N 03.55E, which is actually at La Flamengrie (France).
This is approx. 15 km from the Belgian border or approx. 3 minutes flight time.

Therefore the plane probably crashed in France and not in Belgium.


M vr gr, best regards


Luc