C-47 crash from the 64th Troop Carryng Group

Hi to all,

I recently had acces to one british Escape and Evasion Report from P/O H. Pederson that was attached to the 64 TCG from de USAAF in November 1942. He was on one aircraft - I belive a C-47 - that crashed in the sea in the night from 10 to 11 Nov 1942 when they where transporting 10 paratroopers .

The crew of the plane where Cap. D. O. Hollingsworth, 2Lt. W. Crooks, T/Sgt F. Judd and Cpl Le Roy Hollingsworth (yes the last name is the same as the Captain, altough I have idea if they where related).

From what I was able to find out from my research the paratroopers belonged to 509th. The report does not mention any name or unit altough.

Would like to know if somoene knows the S. Number of this aircraft and the names of the troopers. they crashed in the sea near a boat that was able to get the on board. It was a spanish boat but they stoped in Lisbon (Portugal) to desimbarqued them.

Hope somoene can help me.

Best regards
Carlos

Carlos,
 
Is it possible that this C47 crashed after takeoff at Gilbratar?  My Father's plane went down on November 11, 1942,  It is my understanding that they were carrying British paratroopers of the 503.  My Father was  Lt. Posie M. Clinton.  I believe they were enroute to Algiers.  My Father did survive this crash.
 
Ellie MacCourt

Look at the Firebird Association website. It has a history of the 64th written by Roger Colesen and he writes "On the night of September 14th and 15th, 1943, we dropped the US 2nd Battalion of the 509th Parachute Combat Team at Avelino, Italy, which was in support of the Salerno beach head --our first toehold on the continent." Just put Firebird Association in Goggle and it will start you on the way to his writing. You can also look for the crash reports.
  Joe

Hi,

Thanks for answering. This aircraft was still ont the way and did not arrived in Gibraltar. I'm still tryng to understand what a RAF man was doing on Board. Probably he knew Gibraltar, that was not a easy place for landing.

About the site from the firebird association. I had already searched trough it but was unable to locate any info about the aircraft I'm looking. It is probably in one accident report, beacuse I already searched the MACR's for C-47's in 1942 and in Foontnote, and nothing comes up.

Must keep on my research.

Best regards
Carlos Guerreiro

Carlos,
I can shed some light regarding an RAF man on board.  He probably was the navigator.  I was trying to research my Father's accident and several years after my posting I received a call from England from Ian Mack who was researching information on his Father.    His Father was my Father's navigator on the flight to Algiers in Operation Torch.  Ian sent me a copy of the pages of his father's log which showed Flight Sergeant Arthur Mack had flown 2 previous flights as navigator with my Father. My opinion is the 2 flights were preparation for the long flight from St. Eval to Algiers.  The planes all carried British paratroopers according to Robert Colson who was the historian for the 64th Troop Carrier Group.
 
just a note, the phone call I received from Ian happened to be Mother's day and it was a very moving call.  Ian's Father died later during another mission in WWII.  Ian's Mother was pregnant with him when his Father was killed. I was the first connection that he had in his search for information regarding his Father.  Ian couldn't speak for about 15 minutes!  We all shed tears that day!
 
Have a Great Day!
Ellie

Carlos,
Additional information--On the Firebirds website--The general orders for operation Torch are posted.  There were 42 crews of 4 to a crew listed.  The C47 usually flew with 5 crew members so apparently the British supplied the navigator.  Your crew is listed.
 
Ellie

thanks a lot Ellie,

Finally some more info about these guys. Let's see if I can get something more...

Best regards
Carlos Guerreiro

Carlos,
I have more info regarding this plane.  I had found in 2004 and made a copy of the story.  This is written by wife of Frank Judd, the flight engineer.  If you will go to www.firebirds.org/menu1/moranp_6.htm.  Remarkable story!  Just confirms that these guys are truly heros and the Greatest Generation! 
 I'm not positive but the the paratroopers may have been from the British 3rd Parachute Battalion.  I had made a note of that in my research.
Hopefully, this will bless you as it did me!
 
Ellie

Carlos,
 
Somehow I can't open the firebirds story, so can't see if a serial  is given.
 
Joe Baugher's website however gives a C-47 loss (that is: SOC)  for Nov. 11, 1942, namely 41-7856.
 
There is a Para website where documents of 3rd Para in Nov 1942 can be viewed: http://www.paradata.org.uk/units/3rd-battalion-parachute-regiment-3-para
 
Regards,
 
Leendert
 

Leendert,
 
I also could not access now the firebirds website; however, earlier today I did.
 
Is the serial regarding the numbers of the C47?  If so, Hollingworth's C47 was 41-18353.
 
I'm curious about the Joe Baugher site.  My Father's plane also went down after takeoff from Gilbralter on 11-11-42 with the 64th.  There is no accident report.
 
Thanks
Ellie

Hi,

Thanks to all for the info and for the sites. Hope to get some information in the next weeks about the paratroopers. they are the missing link in this case.

Once again thank you
Best regards
Carlos Guerreiro

HI again,

Mistery solved. The Para Data site people were great. I sent them a message and in a couple of days they found the information missing. I wish everyone worked with this enthusiasm...
So there were ten men on board - besides crew - from the british 3rd Parachute Battalion:

Sgt. Webster
Sgt. Higson
Cpl McGinn
Cpl Deasy
Pte Twort
Pte Thompson
Pte Smith
Pte Mackintosh
Pte Channon
Pte Johnson

So they all are all on board now, and we also know in wish plane.  Thanks to you all and also for Scott Burris for creating such a great forum.

Best regards
Carlos Guerreiro