Incident Overview

Date: Sunday 17 September 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-65-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-100517
Location: 60 km NW off Westkapelle, the Netherlands [North Sea] – ÿ Atlantic Ocean
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: C-47A aircraft (specifically the right hand prop and gear case, roof, and pilot’s bulkhead)C-47A aircraft (specifically the right hand prop and gear case, roof, and pilot’s bulkhead)
Category: Accident
A C-47A aircraft, operating on a paradrop mission over the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, experienced a catastrophic crash near Tilburg. A USAAF Douglas C-47A, 42-100965, crashed into the rear of 42-100517, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot, flying at low altitude over the sea, received vector guidance from a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and continued on a 230-degree heading. After spotting an air-sea rescue service launch, the pilot decided to ditch the plane.A C-47A aircraft, operating on a paradrop mission over the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, experienced a catastrophic crash near Tilburg. A USAAF Douglas C-47A, 42-100965, crashed into the rear of 42-100517, resulting in significant damage to the aircraft. The pilot, flying at low altitude over the sea, received vector guidance from a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and continued on a 230-degree heading. After spotting an air-sea rescue service launch, the pilot decided to ditch the plane.

Description

A C-47A was operating on a paradrop mission over the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden. All twelve paratroopers and four parapacks were dropped near the drop zone. Near Tilburg another airplane, reportedly USAAF Douglas C-47A 42-100965 (msn 19428), crashed into the rear of 42-100517. The right hand prop and gear case were torn off. The roof was also torn off from the pilot’s bulkhead to the rear. The airplane continued on one engine, being hit by flak on several occasions as it continued down the Schelde estuary towards the North Sea. Flying at a low altitude over the sea, the pilot got vectors from a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and continued on a 230-degree heading. After spotting an air-sea rescue service launch the pilot decided to ditch the plane.

Primary Cause

C-47A aircraft crash due to a collision with a C-47A aircraft.C-47A aircraft crash due to a collision with a C-47A aircraft.

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