ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 20659
Last updated: 20 May 2013
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| Date: | 26-JAN-1954 |
| Time: | 12:25 GMT |
| Type: |  Boeing B-29A-65-BN Washington B.1 |
| Operator: | RAF 35 Sqn. |
| Registration: | WF495 |
| C/n / msn: | 11604 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 7 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Airplane damage: | Written off (damaged beyond repair) |
| Location: | Irish Sea, 16 miles W of Lancaster, Lancashire -
 United Kingdom
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Prestwick, Ayrshire (PIK/EGPK) |
| Laagens, Azores. |
Ex USAF 44-62128, delivered 06/12/1950; RAF service with 149, 115 and 35 Squadrons. Returning to USAF on 26/01/1954 as part of Operation Home Run she experienced uncontrollable icing and crashed into the Irish Sea. Despite an extensive search by six lifeboats none of the crewmen were found.
The following article was published in the RNLI’s magazine ‘Lifeboat’ shortly after:
"At twenty-five minutes past midnight on the 26th of January, a Washington aircraft of RAF Bomber Command, bound for the Azores, wirelessed that she was in difficulties through icing and that her crew of seven were baling out. The position of the aircraft when this message was sent was about five miles south of Barrow.
The sea was rough; there was a fresh south-easterly breeze blowing; and there were squalls of snow. The search for the aircraft was carried out by six lifeboats and continued in bitter weather until nine o’clock the next evening. It was unsuccessful and no trace of the aircraft was found, although later an airman’s body was found by a trawler and wreckage was washed ashore.
An extensive air search and rescue operation lasting several days was carried out but no trace of the aircraft was found.
Sources:
Air Britain RAF Aircraft WA100 - WZ999
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html
http://www.rafwatton.info/Portals/0/wash/wash7.pdf
Related books
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Jun-2008 14:57 | JINX | Added |
| 11-Sep-2008 23:23 | angels one five | Updated |
| 14-Apr-2013 20:19 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
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