Status: | |
Date: | Tuesday 19 September 1944 |
Type: | Douglas C-47A-70-DL (DC-3) |
Operator: | United States Army Air Force - USAAF |
Registration: | 42-100770 |
MSN: | 19233 |
First flight: | 1943 |
Crew: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
Passengers: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 0 |
Total: | Fatalities: 4 / Occupants: 4 |
Aircraft damage: | Damaged beyond repair |
Location: | near Retie ( Belgium)
|
Phase: | En route (ENR) |
Nature: | Military |
Departure airport: | ? |
Destination airport: | ? |
Narrative: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.
Sources:
» The Douglas DC-1/DC-2/DC-3 - the first seventy years / J.M. Gradidge
»
Monument C-47 42-100770 Little Jo»
Monument for the crew of Little Jo 89th Troop Carrier Squadron
Photos
This information is not presented as the Flight Safety Foundation or the Aviation Safety Network’s opinion as to the cause of the accident. It is preliminary and is based on the facts as they are known at this time.