Last updated: 29 November 2021
| Status: | |
| Date: | Monday 20 November 1944 |
| Type: |  Douglas Dakota III (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Royal Air Force - RAF |
| Registration: | KG318 |
| MSN: | 12315 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4 |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 15 |
| Total: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 19 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | near Spycker ( France)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Antwerpen-Deurne Airport (ANR/EBAW), Belgium |
| Down Ampney RAF Station, United Kingdom |
The RAF Dakota III transport plane aircraft was flying back from Eindhoven (Advanced Landing Ground B-78) to the U.K. with a load of 15 passengers. A stop was made at Antwerpen (Advanced Landing Ground B-70) and the crew then set course to Cap Gris-Nez. Weather en route was poor with heavy rain and a strong cross wind of 40 to 50 mph. Near Dunkirk the aircraft broke cloud and immediately received hits from Flak in the cabin. Hits were received near the rudder pedal, and the pilot received injuries in the leg and arm and also in the left eye. A fire occurred in the flight deck but could not be fully contained using a fire extinguisher. A waterlogged field was chosen for a forced landing. All survived.
Classification:
Forced landing outside airport
Sources:
» Battle of Britain Monument» rafcommands.com
» The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 - the first seventy years / J.M. Gradidge
Photos
Map
This map shows the airport of departure and the intended destination of the flight. The line between the airports does not display the exact flight path.
Distance from Antwerpen-Deurne Airport to Down Ampney RAF Station as the crow flies is 437 km (273 miles).
Distance from Antwerpen-Deurne Airport to Down Ampney RAF Station as the crow flies is 437 km (273 miles).
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.
