AylesbeareC-47
Recruit
- 2
- Sep 9, 2017
Hi all,
New member here!
I was wondering if someone could help me with some more advanced search.
I'm a local historian (in East Devon, UK), and have recently published a local book on a WW2 military camp. I have recently found out about a C-47 aircraft crash, just half a mile from the camp area (directly next to an area that was a USAF storage depot). I am in the process of doing an 'updated' version of my book, and will be including all information on this incident.
I have done a fair bit of research into this, and have found that the aircraft was returning to RAF Exeter, from a freight mission to Brussels. On the night of the 8th September 1944, at around 23:30, a C-47A 'Dakota' aircraft (serial number 42-93278) crashed near to Newton Poppleford, on Aylesbeare common, Devon. All four occupants died.
1st Lieutenant Bernard J. Touhy (Pilot of the aircraft that night), 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Betz Jr, Staff Sergeant Charles H. Taylor, Staff Sergeant Kerman L. Lamberth.
The four troops were part of the Ninth Air Force's 440th Troop Carrier Group, 97th Troop Carrier Squadron. The 440th Troop Carrier Group was based at RAF Exeter from the 26th April - 11th September 1944.
My question is, I only know the names and rank of those killed, and that is all. Can someone help me gain some more information on these chaps?
Secondly, (And this might be a huge shot in the dark!), would anyone have a photograph of this very aircraft?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Simon
New member here!
I was wondering if someone could help me with some more advanced search.
I'm a local historian (in East Devon, UK), and have recently published a local book on a WW2 military camp. I have recently found out about a C-47 aircraft crash, just half a mile from the camp area (directly next to an area that was a USAF storage depot). I am in the process of doing an 'updated' version of my book, and will be including all information on this incident.
I have done a fair bit of research into this, and have found that the aircraft was returning to RAF Exeter, from a freight mission to Brussels. On the night of the 8th September 1944, at around 23:30, a C-47A 'Dakota' aircraft (serial number 42-93278) crashed near to Newton Poppleford, on Aylesbeare common, Devon. All four occupants died.
1st Lieutenant Bernard J. Touhy (Pilot of the aircraft that night), 2nd Lieutenant Charles A. Betz Jr, Staff Sergeant Charles H. Taylor, Staff Sergeant Kerman L. Lamberth.
The four troops were part of the Ninth Air Force's 440th Troop Carrier Group, 97th Troop Carrier Squadron. The 440th Troop Carrier Group was based at RAF Exeter from the 26th April - 11th September 1944.
My question is, I only know the names and rank of those killed, and that is all. Can someone help me gain some more information on these chaps?
Secondly, (And this might be a huge shot in the dark!), would anyone have a photograph of this very aircraft?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Many thanks,
Simon