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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 45-3-13-524 March 13, 1945, Tuesday
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416th Bombardment Group (L) Aircraft Accident Report 45-3-13-524 March 13, 1945, Tuesday
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(Note: Depending on Internet speed, this report may take some time to download and display.) (AAR images from AAIR - Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research.) Aircraft Serial Number (Type): 43-22344 (Douglas A-26B-15-DT Invader) 9th AF; 416th Bomb Gp; 669th Bomb Sq Mission # 233; Box: II; Flight: 3; Position: 4; A/C Fuselage Code: 2A-C Reason: Crashed Belly Landing (CBL) Damage: Major damage (3) Point Of Departure: A-69 Laon/Athies, France Location: Station A-70
Notes: Pilot's mission: Combat. Nature of accident: Emergency belly landing. Cause of accident: Failure of main gear up locks to release gear. Narrative: After returning from an operational mission on 13 March 1945, Lt. Jordan found, upon entering the landing pattern, that is main gear would not come down. He pulled out of the pattern and climbed to seven thousand (7000) feet where he tried all normal and emergency means for lowering the gear and each time only the nose gear would extend. Lt. Jordan was constantly in contact with the tower and was receiving pertinent instructions from an Operations Officer present in the tower at the time. When it was apparent that the main gear would not come down, Lt. Jordan was sent to A-70 to make a wheels up landing. The pilot circled for an additional hour until most of his gas supply had been expended, then contacted the tower at A-70 and was cleared to make a wheels up landing. An excellent job of landing was accomplished with a minimum amount of damage to the aircraft under the circumstances. ... Description: A sixth plane, piloted by Lt C.S. Jordan, was also hit. When his wheels would not come down for a landing, he was forced to take a crash landing at Station A-70. The landing was a magnificent job. The fuselage was skinned and the props were bent. That was the extent of the damage. The plane was turned over to the depot for repairs. Riding with him were his gunner, S/Sgt H.F. Jensen and an observer from the 11th Armored Division, S/Sgt E.E. Bolton. None of the crew was injured. (416th BG History 1945) Handwritten on Loading List: Crash landed at A-70 See Mission # 233 for additional details |