42-50291 Classy Chassis II
Classy Chassis II was one of two refurbished B-24 heavy bombers, being made ready for delivery when it departed Base Air Depot 2 (BAD2) at Warton on a test flight.
Due to an approaching storm, both aircraft were recalled, but by the time they had returned to the area over the airfield wind and rain had significantly reduced visibility.
On approach from, the pilot First Lieutenant John Bloemendal reported to the control tower that he was aborting landing at the last moment and would perform a go-around. Shortly afterwards, and out of sight of the second aircraft, the aircraft hit the village of Freckleton, just east of the airfield.
Already flying very low to the ground and with wings near vertical, the B-24's right wing tip hit a tree-top and was ripped away as it impacted with the corner of a building. The rest of the wing continued, ploughing along the ground and through a hedge. The fuselage partly demolished three houses and the Sad Sack Snack Bar that catered specifically for American servicemen from the airbase, before crossing Lytham Road and bursting into flames.
After part of the aircraft hit the infants' wing of Freckleton Holy Trinity School, fuel from the ruptured tanks ignited and produced another sea of flames.
52 people (the three crew members on the B-24, 34 children, one teacher, six American servicemen, one RAF airman and seven Snack Bar staff) died instantly, with nine others (four children, one teacher, an American serviceman and three RAF airmen) later dying in hospital from their injuries.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Other
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Base Air Depot 2 Maintenance Division (Base Air Depot 2)
- Service Numbers: 17062814 / O-740035
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 490th Bomb Group 849th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16089376
- Highest Rank: Private
- Role/Job: Airplane Mechanic-Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 490th Bomb Group 849th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11069513 / O-693606
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Base Air Depot 2
- Highest Rank: Private
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: Base Air Depot 2 Maintenance Division (Base Air Depot 2)
- Service Numbers: 34188270
- Highest Rank: Corporal (RAF)
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Brome
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Acton
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: BAD-2
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Freckleton, Preston PR4, UK | 23 August 1944 | Crashed Freckleton after aborting a landing at base and flying through severe thunderstorm. |
Assigned |
Eye, UK | Assigned to 490BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
Assigned |
Sudbury, UK | Transferred to 832BS, 486BG, 8AF USAAF |
Revisions
http://www.b24bestweb.com/classychassis1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/classychassis2.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/classychassis3.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freckleton_air_disaster
https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=17126
https://laituk.org/B-24%2042-50291.htm
https://bad2.co.uk/2017/08/10/the-freckleton-air-disaster/