P-38J Lightning 42-67480 of the 310th Ferry Squadron, 27th Air Transport Group, USAAF, crashed at Cronkstone Grange near Buxton on the 11th December 1943

 

Guy A. Senesac 2nd Lieutenant Pilot OK

 

On the 11th December 1943 2nd Lt Guy Senesac was tasked with ferrying a P-38J Lightning from Warton near Preston to Kingscliffe in Northamptonshire. Part way into the flight the starboard engine cut out in flight so to compensate for the loss of power the pilot ran the port engine to full power.  This caused that engine to over heat and fail, faced with a complete loss of power 2nt Lt Senesac attempted to force land the aircraft in a field.  However as with many attempted force landing in the Peak District (where fields are typically small) the aircraft ran the full length of the field striking a wall. The aircraft slewed round facing the way it had come from and shortly after the wreck caught fire and was completely destroyed.

Accident report photograph of the crash site of Lockheed P-38J 62-67480 at Cronkstone Grange, Buxton, Derbyshire
This photo is one of a number from the report for the incident, showing the stones flung ahead of the aircraft when it struck to wall and the aircraft sat facing back along its flight path.
Source: Mike Stowe
Crash site of Lockheed P-38J 62-67480 at Cronkstone Grange, Buxton, Derbyshire
We found this site in December 2002, some small parts remain at the site but are in very poor condition. 42-67480 was the first aircraft the Guy Senesac was to loose in 11 days, the second was at Merrytown Low near Leek on the 22nd December 1943. The aircraft went through one of the stone walls shown in this photo, travelling from left to right.
Accident report photograph of the crash site of Lockheed P-38J 62-67480 at Cronkstone Grange, Buxton, Derbyshire
Above is a close up photo of the remains of the forward section of the aircraft, the gun pack from the nose is lying on its side as all the supporting frame work was destroyed in the fire.
Source: Mike Stowe