Assigned to 338FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of 1st Lt Richard I Barrett. Transferred to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) escort mission to Hamm, A/C slipped out of formation losing 8,000 ft, possibly as a result of Annoxia and after a snap roll, dived into the deck.

“I was flying #4 position in the Yellow Flight on the wing of Huey R. Coward at about 23,000 feet (7,000 meters) on an escort mission on November 26, 1944, when I noticed that Huey R. Coward's plane was slowly starting to drift away. slide out of formation. I stayed with him and called him on the radio to see if he was okay, but I received no response. Then he turned in a smooth glide to the right. I kept calling him, and also the controller. It spiraled down to about 15000 feet (4500 meters)after which he straightened the plane, rolled over and dived vertically towards the ground. I followed him all the way down and his plane crashed and exploded. I searched the area, but failed to find a parachute; probably he did not leave the aircraft.” (Second Lieutenant Dudley M. Amoss)

As a result of these strange movements and no response from Huey R. Coward, it was soon believed that the cause could have been a malfunction in the oxygen system. This could have caused Huey R. Coward to become unconscious due to oxygen deprivation, which ultimately proved fatal. First Lieutenant Huey R. Coward was killed in the crash.

MACR 10540

 

https://www.slodrenthe.nl/p-51d-mustang-44-15022/