Incident Overview
Date: Tuesday 19 September 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas C-47A-70-DL (DC-3)
Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
Registration Number: 42-100770
Location: near Retie –
ÿ Belgium
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4
Component Affected: C-47A ‘Little Jo’ glider.C-47A ‘Little Jo’ glider.
Category: Accident
On the third day of Operation Market Garden, a Douglas C-47A ‘Little Jo’ of the 89th Troop Carrier Squadron crashed near Retie, Belgium, after being struck by anti-aircraft fire while towing a glider over Landing Zone W. The glider lost altitude and subsequently crashed.On the third day of Operation Market Garden, a Douglas C-47A ‘Little Jo’ of the 89th Troop Carrier Squadron crashed near Retie, Belgium, after being struck by anti-aircraft fire while towing a glider over Landing Zone W. The glider lost altitude and subsequently crashed.
Description
Douglas C-47A “Little Jo” of the 89th Troop Carrier Squadron (438th Troop Carrier Group) was operating on a glider towing mission on the third day of Operation Market Garden. The glider was to be released over Landing Zone W, located north of Eindhoven, the Netherlands. Shortly after passing the front lines, the plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire that exploded just in front of the left wing. Badly damaged, the plane lost altitude. The glider was released and landed north of Retie, Belgium. The C-47’s pilot attempted to return but was forced to carry out an emergency landing near the front lines. The airplane crashed north of Boseind, Retie.
Source of Information
http://www.aviationheritage.eu/nl/content/monument-c-47-42-100770-little-jo, http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/hollandmonument1ltcary.htmlhttp://www.aviationheritage.eu/nl/content/monument-c-47-42-100770-little-jo, http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/hollandmonument1ltcary.htmlPrimary Cause
Anti-aircraft fire.Anti-aircraft fire.Share on:
