AAR 44-7-4-9

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(AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.)

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 41-2969 (Douglas A-20B Havoc)

3rd AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 670th Bomb Sq

Reason: Killed In Crash Ground Collision (KCRGC)

Damage: Completely destroyed (5)

Point Of Departure: Lake Charles AAFld, Louisiana

Location: Three miles southeast of the Army Air Field at Lake Charles, Louisiana

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Scully, Andrew P.	2Lt	O-797995	KCRGC

Notes:
Nature of Accident: Took off at 2317, was to return at 2415, but was never heard of again.

Cause of Accident: Unknown. Was not heard of again after he took off, though attempts at contact were made by the Control Tower operator and C.A.A. radio operator.

Description:
The second fatal accident to Group Personnel occurred on July 4. On that day, while on a routine training flight in the vicinity of Lake Charles, 2nd Lt Andrew P. Scully crashed and was killed. He was a member of the 670th Bomb Squadron.
(416th BG History 1943)

7-4-43A. Lake Charles, Louisiana. At 0015,a Douglas A-20B crashed three miles southeast of the Army Air Field at Lake Charles, Louisiana, killing pilot 2Lt. Andrew P. Scully. The pilot had taken off from Lake Charles Army Air Field at 2317 (7-3-43) on a navigation-training mission and was to return to the field at 0015 (7-4-43). The pilot approached the field and peeled off to the left in an attempt to enter the pattern. The airplane, with landing gear extended, continued in the turn to the left until it contacted the ground on its port main wheel and flipped over on its back, skidding for about 400 feet. Civilians found the wreckage in a farm field at 0715 the next morning. Investigators speculated that the pilot had "lost the horizon" while attempting the turn.
(Mireles, Vol. 2, Pg. 425)