Incident Overview
Date: Sunday 24 September 1944
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota III (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: KG653
Location: Neuleiningen –
ÿ Germany
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 23 / Occupants: 23
Component Affected: Right-hand engineRight-hand engine
A Dakota KG653 aircraft, carrying 14 other aircraft on a troop transport flight to Karachi, deviated from its planned route and crashed in Germany after being struck by a German Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14.A Dakota KG653 aircraft, carrying 14 other aircraft on a troop transport flight to Karachi, deviated from its planned route and crashed in Germany after being struck by a German Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14.
Description
Dakota KG653 took off from RAF Pershore with 14 other aircraft on a troop transport flight to Karachi. The first stop was planned at Cagliari, on the Italian island of Sardinia. Due to bad weather, KG653 strayed off course and flew into Germany. A Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14 opened fire on the right-hand engine. The aircraft rolled inverted and one of the wings separated. The Dakota burst into flames and crashed.
Source of Information
http://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z023_1.pdfhttp://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z023_1.pdfPrimary Cause
Bad weather caused the aircraft to stray off course.Bad weather caused the aircraft to stray off course.Share on:
