Incident Overview
Date: Friday 12 May 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-10-DK (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-92679
Location: near Berwick –
ÿ United Kingdom
Phase of Flight: Unknown
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7
Component Affected: The C-47A transport planes.The C-47A transport planes.
Category: Accident
A midair collision occurred between two C-47A transport planes, 42-108877 and 42-92679, during a nighttime formation exercise called ‘Operation Eagle’. Both aircraft were operating in a rehearsal for the Normandy invasion, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and crew.A midair collision occurred between two C-47A transport planes, 42-108877 and 42-92679, during a nighttime formation exercise called ‘Operation Eagle’. Both aircraft were operating in a rehearsal for the Normandy invasion, resulting in the deaths of all passengers and crew.
Description
Two C-47A transport planes (42-108877 and 42-92679) crashed following a midair collision. The aircraft were flying night formation during an exercise, “Operation Eagle”. This operation included 800 aircraft as a rehearsal for the Normandy invasion. Passengers and crew of both aircraft were killed.
Source of Information
http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/19462, http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asphttp://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/19462, http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.aspPrimary Cause
A midair collision due to misidentification of flight paths during a nighttime formation exercise.A midair collision due to misidentification of flight paths during a nighttime formation exercise.Share on:
