AAR 44-3-4-522

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

Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-9214 (Douglas A-20G-25-DO Havoc)

9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 669th Bomb Sq

Mission # 2

Reason: Bailed Out Out Of Gas (BOoG)

Damage: Completely destroyed (5)

Point Of Departure: AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England

Location: 13 Miles East of Clacton-On-Sea

*Personnel*
Duty	Name	Rank	S/N	Status
Pilot	Ostrander, William B.	2Lt	O-806323	Not Injured
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Wilson, John E.	S/Sgt	38312261	Not Injured
Airplane Mechanic - Gunner	Binney, Irving NMI	S/Sgt	32813178	Not Injured

Notes:
Nature of Accident: "The Crew abandoned aircraft in flight"
Cause of Accident: "The airplane was abandoned in flight after hydrulic system had completely failed and fuel supply completely exhausted."

Description:
One plane piloted by 2nd Lt. William S. Ostrander had to be ditched in the channel.
(416th BG History 1944)

Lt Ostrander's ship, with S/Sgt Wilson and Sgt Binney aboard, came back with the hydraulic system out of order. The landing gear would not lower and there was a full load of bombs aboard. After unsuccessful attempts to bring the wheels down the decision was reached to ditch the plane in the English Channel. To make matters a little more complicated, Sgt Binney's chute had opened in the plane. The interphone was out so Lt Ostrander was not aware of this situation. S/Sgt Wilson gathered the open chute in his arms, booted Sgt Binney out the gunners hatch, and threw the chute out after him. After this he also jumped. Lt Ostrander then headed out over the Channel, and when he was sure the ship would go into the sea he jumped. While floating down he watched his airplane use up the last of its fuel and dive into the water. He hit the water and remained there only three minutes before the air-sea rescue boat picked him up. S/Sgt Wilson and Sgt Binney came down at Ipswich. When Wilson came down in a field near the town a group of small English boys ran up to him yelling "Hi, Yank, got any gum!!" This, as S/Sgt Wilson expressed it, "was the last straw."
("670th Bombardment Squadron (L) History")

See Mission # 2 for additional details