42-8594
On the 19th of April 1944, this aircraft flown by Capt. William Richard Fleming was involved in a mid-air collission with another P-47D flown by 2nd Lt. Edwin Rogers Johnston. Both aircraft crashed, Johnston bailed out, slightly hurt, Fleming 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. Fleming's aircraft was seen to descend from 5000ft in a slow spin. Shortly before crashing the tail unit sheared off and was found 600 yards from the main wreckage. Fleming was still in the cockpit and had made no attempt to bail out. The aircraft came to rest in a pond on the Pylewell Estate, Boldre, Hampshire and was found patially inundated.
The aircraft had recent been fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-63 Double Wasp bringing into line with the P-47D-10-RE aircraft in the 10th Fighter Squadron.
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Wing
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 50th Fighter Group 10th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-793601
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Places
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt