Narrative:
The Dakota crew had delivered their load of supplies during Operation Market Garden. The pilot climbed to 6,000 feet and carried out a circuit on the dropping areas before setting course to the south and climbing to 8,000 feet. South of Nijmegen, the aircraft was attacked by a Luftwaffe Fw 190 fighter plane.
The Dakota sustained damage and a fire erupted. The pilot elected to crash-land the aircraft, when he realised that several of the dispatchers had been wounded. Three occupants died in the crash-landing and five survived. F/L Edwards, his wireless operator and a soldier were able to reach Allied lines but the two other crew were made POWs.
» Market Garden Roll of Honour
| Status: | |
| Date: | Thursday 21 September 1944 |
| Time: | 14:15 |
| Type: |  Douglas Dakota III (DC-3) |
| Operator: | Royal Air Force - RAF |
| Registration: | KG444 |
| MSN: | 12479 |
| First flight: | 1944 |
| Crew: | Fatalities: / Occupants: |
| Passengers: | Fatalities: / Occupants: |
| Total: | Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 8 |
| Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
| Location: | Oploo ( Netherlands)
|
| Phase: | En route (ENR) |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | ? |
| ? |
The Dakota crew had delivered their load of supplies during Operation Market Garden. The pilot climbed to 6,000 feet and carried out a circuit on the dropping areas before setting course to the south and climbing to 8,000 feet. South of Nijmegen, the aircraft was attacked by a Luftwaffe Fw 190 fighter plane.
The Dakota sustained damage and a fire erupted. The pilot elected to crash-land the aircraft, when he realised that several of the dispatchers had been wounded. Three occupants died in the crash-landing and five survived. F/L Edwards, his wireless operator and a soldier were able to reach Allied lines but the two other crew were made POWs.
Sources:
» World War 2 Talk Forum» Market Garden Roll of Honour
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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.
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