ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 166129
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| Date: | Thursday 11 May 1944 |
| Time: | 15:55 LT |
| Type: |  Consolidated B-24 Liberator |
| Owner/operator: | United States Army Air Force (USAAF) |
| Registration: | 41-29481 |
| MSN: | |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Other fatalities: | 3 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Chichester, Sussex -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | Combat |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Lavenham Air Base |
Crashed upon returning from a bombing mission to Troyes, France, after being hit by flak.
The crew bailed out, after BEING UNABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRES CAUSED FROM FLAK OVER FRANCE. THE CREW USED EVERY INSTALLED EXTINGUISHING AGENT IN THE WINGS AND EVERY PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER BOTTLE IN THE CABIN (AIMED INTO ACCESS PORTS TO THE WINGS) IN AN ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE FIRES. THEY WERE ALSO UNABLE TO JETTISON THE REMAINING BOMB LOAD (BOMBARDIER PANEL, PILOT PANEL, MANUAL - ALL FAILED DUE TO DAMAGE). THE PILOT AIMED THE AIRCRAFT OUT TO SEA AFTER HIS CREW BAILED OUT OVER LAND. THE BURNING #3 & #4 ENGINES OVERPOWERED THE SET TRIM AND THE PLANE TURNED BACK TOWARDS CHICHESTER AFTER THE PILOT BAILED OUT. PILOT WAITED TOO LONG TO JUMP AND BROKE HIS LEG DUE TO ONLY PARTIAL CANOPY DEPLOYMENT.
The plane was destroyed, but regretfully, on the ground, three persons died, among them a 12 year old girl. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN AN OPEN GREEN-SPACE SURROUNDED BY HOMES & BUSINESSES BUT CAUSED SOME DAMAGE AT THE NORTHERN EDGE.
Sources:
https://www.spiritfm.net/news/sussex-news/1278688/commemoration-of-1944-plane-crash-in-chichester/
http://www.dunkantix.com/secrets/printable/SUPPLEMENT6.pdf
Images:
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 11-May-2014 11:35 | gerard57 | Added |
| 11-May-2014 14:42 | gerard57 | Updated [Narrative] |
| 10-Dec-2015 18:59 | SgtBDuncan | Updated [Total occupants, Narrative] |
| 06-Aug-2016 06:55 | Ken Emery | Updated [Time, Photo, ] |
| 07-Apr-2020 12:13 | TigerTimon | Updated [Time] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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