Incident Overview

Date: Monday 18 September 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-20-DK Skytrain
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF – 314TCG/61Sq
Registration Number: 42-93001
Location: Achterbergsche Hooilanden east of Achterberg, Rhenen, prov. of Utrecht – ÿ Netherlands
Phase of Flight: Combat
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 3 / Occupants: 19
Component Affected: Aircraft (specifically the right hand engine)Aircraft (specifically the right hand engine)
Category: Accident
Narrative
During Operation Market Garden, a crashed aircraft struck near the drop zone in the Binnenveld, resulting in a forced landing. Anti-aircraft fire from the Grebbeberg hill impacted the aircraft. Paratroopers of the 11th Battalion, including L/Sgt. K.J. Metcalfe, were injured and killed. Pilot Capt. G.D. Merz, Co-Pilot 2/Lt. E.W. Haageson, Navigator 2/Lt. R.C.J. Stephens, Crew Chief KiA S.T. Eastman, and Radar Operator S.W. Miller were involved. Dutch authorities subsequently apprehended and executed the evader, L/Sgt. W.G. Buckley.During Operation Market Garden, a crashed aircraft struck near the drop zone in the Binnenveld, resulting in a forced landing. Anti-aircraft fire from the Grebbeberg hill impacted the aircraft. Paratroopers of the 11th Battalion, including L/Sgt. K.J. Metcalfe, were injured and killed. Pilot Capt. G.D. Merz, Co-Pilot 2/Lt. E.W. Haageson, Navigator 2/Lt. R.C.J. Stephens, Crew Chief KiA S.T. Eastman, and Radar Operator S.W. Miller were involved. Dutch authorities subsequently apprehended and executed the evader, L/Sgt. W.G. Buckley.

Description

Crashed during Operation Market Garden. The right hand engine was on fire when it was approaching the drop zone near Wageningen. A forced landing was carried out. The aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire from the Grebbeberg hill. It came down in the Binnenveld between the Maatsteeg and the river Grift. Before landing, some paratroopers of the 11th Battalion had jumped out with their parachutes. Eastman, Merz and Haageson sustained minor injuries. Of the 14 paratroopers, L/Sgt K.J. Metcalfe was killed. Several paratroopers were also injured. T/Sgt Eastman was wounded and would not leave the aircraft; he was killed by Dutch SS officers. Pilot Capt. G.D. Merz / evader Co-Pilot 2/Lt. E.W. Haagenson / evader Navigator 2/Lt. R.C.J. Stephens / KiA Crew Chief Sgt. R.W. Eastman / Murdered by Dutch SS Radar Operator T/Sgt. W.G. Buckley / KiA

Source of Information

https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/32295/Crashlocatie-C-47-42-93001.htm, https://verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/ahome/lossregister/results?sglo=T4113, http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.htmlhttps://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/32295/Crashlocatie-C-47-42-93001.htm, https://verliesregister.studiegroepluchtoorlog.nl/ahome/lossregister/results?sglo=T4113, http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html

Primary Cause

Aircraft crash due to impact from anti-aircraft fire and subsequent forced landing.Aircraft crash due to impact from anti-aircraft fire and subsequent forced landing.

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