Douglas C-47A 41-38608 of the 33rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, 363rd TAC Reconnaissance Group, 9th AF, crashed on the 22nd December 1944 at Dawson Farm near Bosley

C-47 Dakota

 

Theodore A. Rogers Major Pilot Injured
John E. Barnby 1st Lieutenant Co-pilot Killed
William E. Davis Sergeant Crewman Died of Injuries
Charles P. Ingram Private Crewman Killed
Richard L. Cardozo Lieutenant Colonel Passenger Killed
Holmes L. Payne Lieutenant Colonel Passenger Killed
Cecil R. Steele Major (US Army) Passenger Killed

 

The aircraft was being used to ferry supplies from Burtonwood to Le Culot (Y-10) in France via Grove near Wantage in Oxfordshire, along with a small number of passengers. The pilots had taken off from Burtonwood for the 90 minute flight to Grove and headed south but encountered bad weather and decided to return to Burtonwood to wait for better weather before trying again.

While flying back in a northerly direction in low cloud, with visibility reported as being between 20 and 40 yards, the aircraft hit a tree which caused it to crashed in an adjoining field. The wreck immediately caught fire, it had taken off with 6 hours fuel supply and had only been flying for less than 30 minutes, and was largely destroyed.

The two men who survived the crash were dragged clear of the burning wreckage by the farmer and his 13 year old son although Sgt Davis died shortly after he arrived at hospital in Macclesfield. They did not attempt to get to the other occupants who they could see had been killed in the crash.

Crash site of Douglas C-47A 41-38608 at Dawson Farm, Bosley, Cheshire
This photo shows the area where 41-38608 crashed near Bosley. Nothing remains on the surface now.
Crash site of Douglas C-47A 41-38608 at Dawson Farm, Bosley, Cheshire in 1944
Above is photo taken from the bottom of the field (to the right of the top photo) showing the burned out wreck of the aircraft.
Source: Mike Stowe

 

Grave of 1st Lieutenant John E. Barnby at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Sergeant William E. Davis at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Private Charles P. Ingram at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Lieutenant Colonel Richard L. Cardozo at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Major Cecil R. Steele at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery