Date & Time:
Jan 19, 1945 at 1125 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
42-95995
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
0
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
About four minutes after takeoff from Lyon-Bron Airport, the right engine caught fire. The pilot attempted an emergency landing in a snow covered field but the aircraft collided with poplars and crashed, bursting into flames. While the aircraft was destroyed by fire, all five crew members evacuated safely. The crew was returning to his base following a bombing mission over Rhine bridges. It is believed that the aircraft may have been damaged by the German Flak during the operation. The crew was attached to the Groupe de Bombardement Moyen 2/63 Sénégal.
Crew:
Lt Willy Pinhede, pilot,
Lt Duwernell, copilot,
S/Lt Stoff, navigator,
Adj Sagazan, radio operator,
Victor Schoenenberger, flight engineer.
Crew:
Lt Willy Pinhede, pilot,
Lt Duwernell, copilot,
S/Lt Stoff, navigator,
Adj Sagazan, radio operator,
Victor Schoenenberger, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.
