Incident Overview
Date: Wednesday 25 July 1945
Aircraft Type: Douglas Dakota IV (DC-3)
Owner/operator: Royal Air Force – RAF
Registration Number: KN556
Location: near Akyab –
ÿ Myanmar
Phase of Flight: En route
Status: Destroyed, written off
Casualties: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
Component Affected: Dakota Dakota KN556Dakota Dakota KN556
Category: Accident
On July 25, 1945, a Douglas Dakota KN556, flying with 62 Squadron of RAF, experienced a delayed takeoff due to heavy rain at the runway. The aircraft successfully took off at 10:07 hours, with no unusual occurrences observed. Two members of 62 Squadron subsequently discovered the wreckage of the aircraft near the Chuang, Akyab Beach, approximately 17:20 hours.On July 25, 1945, a Douglas Dakota KN556, flying with 62 Squadron of RAF, experienced a delayed takeoff due to heavy rain at the runway. The aircraft successfully took off at 10:07 hours, with no unusual occurrences observed. Two members of 62 Squadron subsequently discovered the wreckage of the aircraft near the Chuang, Akyab Beach, approximately 17:20 hours.
Description
Douglas Dakota KN556 of 194 Sqn RAF, was scheduled for an early morning takeoff on 25 July 1945 which was delayed until 09:00 hours due to heavy rain rendering the runway unserviceable. The aircraft was carrying a load R.E’s stores for their destination at Toungoo, Burma. When the aircraft finally took off at 10:07 hours nothing unusual was noticed by Flying Control, with no rain at the time, cloud 7-9/10ths and ceiling of 400-500 feet. At 17:20 hours the aircraft was reported overdue. Nothing further was heard until the Thursday evening, 26 July 1945, when two members of 62 Squadron who had been fishing near the mouth of the Chuang, Akyab Beach returned to camp and reported finding Dakota wreckage.
Source of Information
http://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfhttp://www.awm.gov.au/catalogue/research_centre/pdf/rc09125z019_1.pdfPrimary Cause
Heavy rain rendering the runway unserviceable.Heavy rain rendering the runway unserviceable.Share on:
