Incident Overview
Date: Saturday 24 March 1945
Aircraft Type: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 44-77637
Location: near Bonninghardt –
ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: Left wing of the Curtiss C-46D aircraftLeft wing of the Curtiss C-46D aircraft
Category: Accident
On Operation Varsity, the Curtiss C-46D aircraft dropped 22 paratroopers of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment at a designated drop zone near Bonninghardt, Germany. Following the drop, a fire erupted on the left wing, prompting a forced landing attempt which resulted in the aircraft impacting the ground and breaking up.On Operation Varsity, the Curtiss C-46D aircraft dropped 22 paratroopers of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment at a designated drop zone near Bonninghardt, Germany. Following the drop, a fire erupted on the left wing, prompting a forced landing attempt which resulted in the aircraft impacting the ground and breaking up.
Description
The Curtiss C-46D participated in Operation Varsity and dropped 22 paratroopers of the 513th Parachute Infantry Regiment at a drop zone near Bonninghardt, Germany. After dropping the paratroopers a fire developed on the left wing. A forced landing was attempted but the airplane impacted the ground and broke up. The aircraft operated out of an airfield near Achiet, France.
Source of Information
http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/48thtcsinrhinemission.htmlhttp://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/48thtcsinrhinemission.htmlPrimary Cause
Fire on the left wing of the C-46D aircraft.Fire on the left wing of the C-46D aircraft.Share on:
