420819 - Unaccounted airman - 19-8-1942 (Sudan)

[Henk Welting]

P/O (Pilot) Elroy F. BENT - RCAF J/9264 and P/O (Pilot) Peter H. WYMAN - RCAF J/8642, both buried Khartoum, were killed when a USAAF aircraft crashed at Wadi Seidna. Looking for a/c type and serial and - if possible - more on accident and crew.

Regards,
Henk.

[CZ_RAF]

Hi Henk, unfortnately I am not able to find any USAAF plane in MACR list on this date which will fit:

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Aug1942O.htm

So I can suggest to try an USAAF forum if anyone will have more info if you are sure it was an USAAF aircraft.

Pavel

[Henk Welting]

Thanks Pavel; over to TOCH.
Regards,
Henk.

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Could be this one ?

Marauder I serial number FK119 recorded as MIA on a ferry flight in the MAAF shortly after export, date given as 17th August 1942. US serial number would have been 41-7389).
Ref is AB's "The BAC and Lend-Lease". One of 8 Marauder I's that was lost after export to the MAAF and the only one that is in the time frame. Although an RAF aircraft it could be described as an American Bomber.

Anyone have details of this loss ? Crew names place of crash ?

Thanks
Alex

[dennis_burke]

Christie in Ocean Bridge lists it as 'lost out of Natal, Brazil' date 17th August 1942
with crew:

S/L G Robinson RAF Pilot -Runnymede
Sgt G F Lyman Dixon RAF Pilot -Runnymede
P/O J J P H Doran RCAF Nav Ottawa Memorial
G H Randle Canadian Civ R/O -

Corected names from CWGC and can't find Randle on CWGC.

Randle is mentioned here so it not an error:
http://www.rregtc-assoc.ca/Appleyard%20Bio.html

[Alex Smart]

Hello dennis,

Thanks for quick reply which brings us back to looking for the loss of an American bomber again ?

Alex

[wwrsimon]

Hello

P/O (Pilot) Elroy F. BENT - RCAF J/9264 and
P/O (Pilot) Peter H. WYMAN - RCAF J/8642

Bent's R.C.A.F. records are available to view on ancestry.co.uk, and include a letter from Sgd. S. Cooper, S/Ldr, for Wing Commander, Commanding, R.A.F. Station, Wadi Seindna, which includes the following:

On the day of the accident, 19th August, 1942, P/O E. F. Bent was unofficially at this station, other than stating he was assisting the Duty Pilot, no explanation of his presence can be given. Later in the day, as far as it is known, this officer telephoned to W/O P. Wyman, who duly arrived at this station.
Both these officers contacted the pilot of a LOCKHEED HUDSON, No. A.25.A - 41-23592, blonging to the U.S.A.A.C. and took off on what may only be described as a test flight.
At approximately 1515 hours, the aircraft was seen to crash in flames resulting in the death of all occupants. It is estimated that the flight was of approximatley 1.5 hours duration.
The U.S.A.A.C. has been approached with the view of ascertaining the cause of the accident, but this Unit has now been informed that it is not possible to give any definite statement as to the cause.

Regards

Simon

[paulmcmillan]

Christie in Ocean Bridge lists it as 'lost out of Natal, Brazil' date 17th August 1942
with crew:

S/L G Robinson RAF Pilot -Runnymede
Sgt G F Lyman Dixon RAF Pilot -Runnymede
P/O J J P H Doran RCAF Nav Ottawa Memorial
G H Randle Canadian Civ R/O -

Corected names from CWGC and can't find Randle on CWGC.

Randle is mentioned here so it not an error:
http://www.rregtc-assoc.ca/Appleyard%20Bio.html

AIR81/17226 Squadron Leader G Robinson, Sergeant G F Lyman Dixon, Pilot Officer J Doran (RCAF), Mr G H Randle: missing believed killed; Marauder B26, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over the Ascension Islands, 21 August 1942.


Name
Wireless Operator Gordon Henry Randle
Birth
1920

[Andy Marden]

P/O (Pilot) Elroy F. BENT - RCAF J/9264 and
P/O (Pilot) Peter H. WYMAN - RCAF J/8642

Bent's R.C.A.F. records are available to view on ancestry.co.uk, and include a letter from Sgd. S. Cooper, S/Ldr, for Wing Commander, Commanding, R.A.F. Station, Wadi Seindna, which includes the following:

On the day of the accident, 19th August, 1942, P/O E. F. Bent was unofficially at this station, other than stating he was assisting the Duty Pilot, no explanation of his presence can be given. Later in the day, as far as it is known, this officer telephoned to W/O P. Wyman, who duly arrived at this station.
Both these officers contacted the pilot of a LOCKHEED HUDSON, No. A.25.A - 41-23592, blonging to the U.S.A.A.C. and took off on what may only be described as a test flight.
At approximately 1515 hours, the aircraft was seen to crash in flames resulting in the death of all occupants. It is estimated that the flight was of approximatley 1.5 hours duration.
The U.S.A.A.C. has been approached with the view of ascertaining the cause of the accident, but this Unit has now been informed that it is not possible to give any definite statement as to the cause.

This aircraft would seem to be a little mysterious. According to "The Lockheed Twins" (Air-Britain, 2001), it should have become BW730, but this was not taken up. It says:
"Mod for Chinese AF, del 4 Apr 42, fate unknown"
A look at our database for BW730:
http://www.rafcommands.com/database/...php?uniq=BW730
records its loss on 19 August 1942, with the unit being given as the Aircraft Delivery Unit.

[paulmcmillan]

For completeness

AIR81/17248 Pilot Officer E F Bent (RCAF), Pilot Officer P H Wynian (RCAF): Hudson A29A, 2 Middle East Command Pilot and Aircrew Pool, aircraft failed to return from an operational flight over Wadi Seidna, Sudan, 19 August 1942.