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Two propellers of P-47D-10-RE (no.42-75116) at the site it crashed, near Lymington, on the 19th of April 1944. The pilot 2nd Lt. Edwin R. Johnston had been in collision with the aircraft of Capt. William R. Fleming and both crashed, Fleming was killed.
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On the 21st of September 2017 the engine was recovered from a point some 80m from the crash site. It had apparently been dug up and abandoned there, unfortunately the propellor set and possibly other items taken.
Detailed history
On the 19th of April 1944, this aircraft flown by 2nd Lt. Edwin Rogers Johnston was involved in a mid-air collission with another P-47D flown by Capt. William Richard Fleming. Both aircraft crashed, Johnston bailed out, slightly hurt, Fleming failed to bail out and was killed. The aircraft were took off from Lymington for formation training. However, Johnston following behind Fleming was blinded by the sun and while straightening up in the hope to gain sight of his leader flew his aircraft into that of his leader, striking it near the centre of the fuselage, on which his aircraft flipped onto his back and oiled sprayed from the engine and caught fire, four seconds later Johnston bailed out and his aircraft went down on fire and crashed on the salt marsh near Tanners Lane, Boldre, Hampshire, and burnt. The crash site could not be reached by fire trucks as it was someway from the shoreline. The engine of this aircraft was recovered on the 21st of September 2017.
Connections
People
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter pilot | 50th Fighter Group
2nd Lt Edwin R. Johnston was a pilot of the 10th Fighter Squadron, flying Thunderbolts in the ETO. He was born on the 13th of August 1919 in Atlanta, Georgia, the son of Mark Graham Johnston and his wife Jessie (née Coogler) who were married in...
Aircraft
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P-47 Thunderbolt
On the 19th of April 1944, this aircraft flown by 2nd Lt. Edwin Rogers Johnston was involved in a mid-air collission with another P-47D flown by Capt. William Richard Fleming. Both aircraft crashed, Johnston bailed out, slightly hurt, Fleming failed...