Oxford N4759 near Marston Moor airfield.
I need to buy the USAAF accident report on this incident to get a correct picture of what happened. A transcript of part of the USAAF accident report has been published on the internet but various aspects of it do not seem correct, or if they are correct then one could possibly understand how accidents happen. What is "known" is that on 14th April 1944 the crew of this aircraft were to fly the aircraft from Balderton to Burtonwood, via Hooton Park and the report states they were carrying spare parts. The aircraft was on charge with the 24th Mobile Reclamation and Repair Squadron, 312th Service Group, USAAF and this unit appear to have been based at Lymington, Hampshire. The time quoted for take off from Balderton is at 21.15hrs with the weather forecast poor; rain was to be expected. I do not yet understand why this flight was made in such poor conditions, crossing the Pennines and at night, because by 21.15hrs in April it is very much dark already, even allowing for double BST. The spare parts must have been very important. The report states that during the flight west on the first leg of the flight towards Hooton Park the crew found that the visibility was very poor and that at their estimated time of arrival at Hooton Park, at 21.50hrs, it was nearly dark. Thirty five minutes to fly from Balderton to Hooton Park would also not seem correct. Some Oxfords carried beam flying equipment but this one cannot have carried it because after being unable to locate Hooton Park the pilot opted to head east and return to Balderton but they seem to have remained completely lost. If it was carrying beam equipment then it can't have been used, there is also not mention of any form of radio equipment being used to transmit any requests for help in landing. The crew calculated the time at which they should have been nearing Balderton airfield and, just before 23.00hrs began signalling on the downward identification light. If they calculated it took thirty five minutes to fly from Balderton to Hooton Park then how did they calculate it taking over double that time to make the return flight? Their signal was picked up by Marston Moor airfield where a night flying programme had already finished and much of the lighting had been switched off. The lighting was switched back on and the Oxford circled the airfield but before they could land the aircraft flew into a tree and crashed at 23.10hrs.
Pilot - 2Lt James Martin Fisher USAAF. Injured. To SSQ.
? - Sgt Blum. Injured. To SSQ.
? - Cpl Waldon. Serious injuries. Admitted to York Military Hospital.
The "www.americanairmuseum.com" website seem to think Marston Moor is in Norfolk. The website "www.baaa-acro.com" seem to think it's near Preston. I seem to think Marston Moor is in Yorkshire.
The incident is recorded in Marston Moor's station orb and that states it was a 105 Squadron, USAAF Christchurch aircraft and that it crashed after striking a tree while coming into land at 23.10hrs.
The full USAAF transcript was first published on the superb RAF Commands forum by Norman Malayney (with spelling errors) and reads as follows...
"Weather: cloud 5/10 stratocumulous 2000 feet, ceiling cloud above 101/0, intermittent rain becoming continuous, visibility four miles. Cleared from Balderton to Burtonwood for ferrying parts. Oxford No. N4759 crashed at Marston Moor on the night of the 14th April 1944. Pilot took off from Balderton about 2115 hours with the intention of proceeding to Dartonwood via Hooten Park. At the ETA Hooten Park 2150 dusk had fallen and the visibility was very poor. He was unable to pinpoint himself and accordingly set course to the East, intending to return to Balderton. About five minutes before ETA Balderton, he commenced signalling on the downward identification light. At Marston Moor, the night flying programme having concluded at 2210 hours, the DREM lighting system was switched off with the exception of the perimeter track lighting and obstruction lighting on high buildings such as hangars, etc. At 2257 hours the duty control officer received a telephone message to the effect that an aircraft was circling and flashing SOS. Full Drem lighting, including the outer circle was immediately switched on for any emergency landing. Very soon the airfield was illuminated just to the starboard of the aircraft, then at 4,000 feet. He circled twice to lose height and then proceeded to carry out a normal approach and landing. He was on approach at IAS 90 mph and apparently, according to instruments, at an indicated altitude of 500 feet, the aircraft struck a tree. It immediately descended heavily to the ground and burned, causing major injuires to the three occupants."