Incident Overview
Date: Monday 21 August 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota III (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: KG421
Location: Chambois, Orne –
ÿ France
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: AircraftAircraft
A RAF 48 Sqn Dakotas aircraft crashed during a supply drop operation to Polish forces in Chambois, Orne, France, resulting in injuries to multiple personnel. The pilot, Wing Commander J.A. Sproule (CDN), and two members of the Army Service Corps were involved. The aircraft was hit by flak and small arms fire, leading to a crash landing inside allied lines.A RAF 48 Sqn Dakotas aircraft crashed during a supply drop operation to Polish forces in Chambois, Orne, France, resulting in injuries to multiple personnel. The pilot, Wing Commander J.A. Sproule (CDN), and two members of the Army Service Corps were involved. The aircraft was hit by flak and small arms fire, leading to a crash landing inside allied lines.
Description
One of six RAF 48 Sqn Dakotas tasked to drop urgently needed supplies to Polish forces fighting to close the Falaise pocket at Chambois, Orne, France. It was hit by flak and small arms fire and the pilot managed to crash land inside allied lines. Pilot was the squadron commanding officer: Wing Commander J.A. Sproule (CDN) – slight injury Copilot was: Flight Lieutenant B. Cobcroft (NZ) – slight injury Navigator was: Flight Lieutenant W.G. Owen – seriously injured, hospitalized. Riding in the rear of the plane had been two members of the Army Service Corps. Their job was to throw out the supplies at the drop zone. They were unhurt.
Source of Information
https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/search-awards/?search=sproule&searchfield=lastname&type=all, http://www.aircrewremembered.com/ParadieArchiveDatabase/?q=39692&qand=&exc1=&exc2=&search_only=&search_type=exacthttps://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/search-awards/?search=sproule&searchfield=lastname&type=all, http://www.aircrewremembered.com/ParadieArchiveDatabase/?q=39692&qand=&exc1=&exc2=&search_only=&search_type=exactPrimary Cause
Flak and small arms fire caused by enemy fire during a supply drop operation.Flak and small arms fire caused by enemy fire during a supply drop operation.Share on:
