Leith Hill multiple aircraft accident

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Leith Hill multiple aircraft accident
Skytrain Douglas C-47 (16138521471).jpg
A C-47, of the type involved in the accident
Accident
Date26 November 1944 (1944-11-26)
Summary Controlled flight into terrain in bad weather
Site Leith Hill, Surrey, England
51°10′33″N0°22′11″W / 51.17583°N 0.36972°W / 51.17583; -0.36972
Aircraft type Douglas C-47A-30-DK
Operator United States Army Air Force
Registration
  • 42-92837
  • 42-93754
  • 43-47975
Flight origin Advanced Landing Ground "A-4, France
Destination Chalgrove Airfield, England
Fatalities13
Survivors0

On 26 November 1944, four C-47 transport aircraft of the 442nd Operations Group departed from Advanced Landing Ground "A-4 in Pays de la Loire, northern France, en route to Chalgrove Airfield, Oxfordshire, England. The C-47s were flying in a Diamond formation. After crossing the English Channel low cloud forced the aircraft to descend from 1,500 feet to 1,200 feet. Three of the four C-47 descended another 200 feet, and shortly thereafter, the three C-47s crashed into the side of Leith Hill, the highest summit of the Greensand Ridge. The crash killed all thirteen crewmen on the three C-47, five on 43–47975, five on 42-93754 & three on 42–92837. The fourth C-47 landed safely at Chalgrove Airfield. [1] [2] [3]

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References

  1. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Douglas C-47A-30-DK (DC-3) 43-47975 Leith Hill". aviation-safety.net.
  2. ↑ "Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Leith Hill: 5 killed | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives". www.baaa-acro.com.
  3. ↑ "SSgt Lester A Knorr (1919-1944) - Find A Grave..." www.findagrave.com.


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