23/01/1945 A-26B Invader 409 BG crashed near Bastogne (Belgium)

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,

With as mission Road traffic from VP-833620 to VP-950650 (Dasburn to Arzfeld) and after dropping his fragmentation bombs, Lt. Arden D.Connick (O-761710) made continuous attacked from deck level destroying 5 trucks, damaging 2 and shooting at flak positions and a fortified church and building. During the attack intense light flak caused heavy damage to his aircraft. The last pass on the church steemple from which fire was being received was made on a level with the ground floor of the structure on a single engine and upon passing the church the A/C was put in a steep banking turn around the steeple. With but one engine and it on fire in addition to damaging hits throughout the A/C the pilot turned west for home still flying on the deck. The one engine still burning the pilot was forced to crash land on a snow covered hillside near Bastogne at 180 mph. The A/C was demolished. Only the pilot, Lt.Connick , was injured (broken nose). The two gunners were not injured : Cpl. James R. Clark (18199954) and Cpl. Marshall B.Steele (31275817). (source history of 409 BG).

Which was the serial of this aircraft ?

Many thanks and best regards

Luc

[Alex Smart]

Hi,
Could be one of these two 409 BG aircraft, -Pilot unnamed.
41-39301 -?
41-39312 - Simon.
41-39290 - ?
41-39254 - Wood.

Alex

[RSwank]

41-39301 was flown by Richard K Bills on the 23. See MACR 12395.

41-39290 was flown by Mark L Robb on the 23, See MACR 12397.

[Revi16]

Based on Aviation Archeology's webpage there isn't an Accident or MACR with Connick as a pilot.

[Alex Smart]

Just a thought, in some MACR's the name given as Pilot is not the pilot but the aircraft commander .
So perhaps another airman was in command of the aircraft ?

[Leendert]

Dag Luc

Mission Summary for 23 Jan 1945 has Lt Connick in A-26 with squadron code "5I-B". Unfortunately no serials mentioned in report, as is the case for the four 409 BG a/c for which a MACR had to be filed (but then, serials in MACR).

For Connick no MACR because landed in Allied territory, nor accident report because on (return from) combat mission.

I've sent you a mail.

Groet, Leendert