James Alston crash on 20 August 1944

[gilles collaveri]

Hi mates,

On 20 August 1944, US Lt James Alston (VOF 1) crashed in the south of France close to the famous castle of Carcassonne (near Penneautier) and he escaped safely.

I think that he was flying a Hellcat that had taken off the US aircraft carrier USS Tulagi (CVE-72) which was based in the Mediterranean see;

Could you help me gather (or confirm) information on this event:

Aircraft type ?

MACR ?

Reason of the crash?

location of crash ?

Thanks in advance, and cheers

GC

[Leendert]

Gilles,

Some more info here: http://www.history.navy.mil/download/ww2-30.pdf

Lt Alston was shot down in his F6F-5 Hellcat while attacking a transport convoy 5 mi. NE of Carcassonne at around 7 p.m.
As location Pennautier is mentioned elsewhere.
Another website says a/c number was # 18 or rather BuNo 58300.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Gilles,

This link has some interesting info as well:

http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/m...ID=33&MemID=55

Regards,

Leendert

[RSwank]

His E&E report is here:
http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1408.pdf

Also, Ensign C W S Hulland, (also in a F6F Hellcat) went down and evaded at same time.

http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-1407.pdf

[Frank Olynyk]

As far as I know, there were five USN losses in Southern France on August 20, 1944.

VF-74, Kasaan Bay
BuNo 58333, Lt(jg) William N Arbuckle, KIA
BuNo 58109, LtCdr, Harry Brinkley Bass, KIA
BuNo 58307, Ens. C W S Hulland, evaded

VOF-1, Tulagi
BuNo 58300, Lt. James F Alston, evaded
BuNo 58279, Lt David S Crockett, evaded?

Enjoy!

Frank.

[RSwank]

A photo of David S Crockett with a little of his story here:
http://www.fold3.com/image/270026643/

His story is also given in the link in the second post above (on page 35). He was
actually captured and being held in a fort (at Toulon?). When the Germans decided to
surrender, they apparently surrendered to him.

[Leendert]

Frank,

Not wishing to drift away from Lt Alston: it appears that Lt Crockett was a POW for just a few days until on 23 Aug the fort at/near Toulon he was held was surrendered by the Germans.

Lots more local info here: http://perso.orange.fr/Patrick.ertel/id8.htm

Regards,

Leendert

[Laurent Rizzotti]

The combat reports of VOF-1 for the sorties of 20 August 1944 are available on fold3 website.

The report for the sortie during which Alston was lost is there:
http://www.fold3.com/image/287130682/ (and the next three pages)

There is no MACR for US Navy personnel.

[gilles collaveri]

Thanks guys, et merci aussi;

GC