Peak District Air Accident Research

P-47C Thunderbolt 41-6227 of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group USAAF crashed on Horsehill Tor at the head of Edale on the 25th April 1943 after being caught by severe turbulence in a thunderhead and entering a spin. The aircraft was being ferried from Speke to Horsham St Faith following maintenance work on the aircraft.

John Coenen was injured when he landed heavily on what is now the Pennine Way at Upper Booth after bailing out on realising that he was not going to get control before the aircraft hit the ground. The aircraft dived under power into the ground.

Not surprisingly there is little left of the P-47, as it dived into the ground at high speed. Only one or two items remain in an identifiable state in the photos with the crash report.

The view from the crash site towards Edale, taken in September 2003.

Above is the only photo from the report that much can be made out in.

Source: Mike Stowe

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