Dakota lost WW2 over Tawton, Devon, info needed

[Danny152]

A New Year greeting to you all!!

I have put this thread on here before but without any success so thought I would try again. In late WW2 a US Dakota was flying over the village of either South - North Tawton, Devon where it crashed. Resulting in the pilot losing his leg. After the investigation it was found the pilot was showing off and hence his accident.

Does anyone have any info on this incident, I have asked around but nobody seems to know much on it. A long time ago I did see a photo of a crashed C47 and believe this was the one taken from the front nose section. A large number of black GIs were ordered to clean up the wreckage.

Thanks for looking any help or a copy of that photo would be brill!!!

Regards,

Danny

[Revi16]

Perhaps C-47A 42-100640, Oct. 13, 1945, Huntingdon Warren Farm?

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/s...640&Submit4=Go

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/4193119

Have you tried contacting a Library or News Paper in the towns listed? Perhaps they can at least give you a day/date to work with.

How do you know the investigation found the pilot liable for the accident/lost a leg, but no other details? The report should have contained other valuable information.

[RSwank]

For 42-100640 it appears everyone on the plane was killed.
There is a little more info on the crash here:

http://aviation-safety.net/database/...?id=19451013-0

[Danny152]

Well I was not going mad and Rob Jones has very kindly provided information about the crash I was looking for, can anyone provide any further details?

On 23 May 1944 C-47A 42-100936 crashed 2 miles SSE of North Tawton. Some records have the spelling as ‘Tauton’ which is why I missed it earlier – I was thinking it should have read Taunton. If I’ve got it right the position would be close to South Hill Farm at map reference SX674988 - there is some high ground there.

The aircraft was from 98 Troop Carrier Squadron of 440 Troop Carrier Group of the Ninth Air Force USAAF based at Exeter. The pilot was Elmer H McCandless but I don’t have his rank. I’ve got no details of anyone else on board or any casualties.

Thanks

Danny

[Leendert]

Danny,

Website Air Force History Index provided following names:

LEMPKE, ARTHUR J.; MCCANDLESS, ELMER H. JR; CALIGUIRI, LUIGI; TAYLOR, DELMAR O.; CALLINGHAM, C. E.; THOMPSON, R. V.; DEUTSCH, M. J.

Regards,

Leendert

[Danny152]

Leendert,

Always a pleasure and thanks.

Regards,

Danny