Douglas B-26B Invader 8811-B, French Air Force, crashed on Distinkhorn August 13th 1956

 

Edgar Joseph Flanagan Mr Pilot Killed
Wayne Archer Taylor Mr Navigator Killed

 

The aircraft was being flown from the US via Iceland and Prestwick to France by two civilian pilots for delivery to the French Air Force, in whose markings the aircraft was painted when it crashed. While approaching Prestwick at night with the undercarriage lowered the aircraft struck the ground, leaving a pair of furrows until it reached a deep gully where it became briefly airborne before glancing off the opposite bank and crashing into the moorland a short way up stream.

The aircraft is reported to have been originally built as an A-26C with the USAAF serial number of 44-35750 and was subsequently converted to a B-26B for delivery to France as 8811-B

Crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
Looking from around the point the aircraft became momentarily airborne to where it eventually came to rest, with the area of low vegetation to the right being where it struck the opposite bank.
Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engine at the crash site of B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
One of the aircraft’s Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp engines is still present on the surface at the site. There are enough water & moss filled holes to suggest the other is also there.
One nearby hole contains contains a main undercarriage oleo.
Crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
This view is looking back towards where the aircraft first contacted the ground with its undercarriage.
Steel built rocket hardpoints at crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
This item is one of the rocket hard points fitted below the outer wings.
Section of bomb bay at the crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
Lying not far away is this section of the bomb bay.
0.50" Cal. gun mounts at the crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
Also present is part of the mounting point for the eight 0.50″ machine guns from the nose.
Main wheel tyre and engine firewall at the crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
One of the stainless steel engine fire walls, main undercarriage tyre and main oleo.
Visitors book in an ammunition box at the crash site of Douglas B-26B 8811-B on Distinkhorn, South Lanarkshire
The final photo is one of the more unusual things we have seen at a crash site.
A visitor’s book, here kept in an old ammunition box screwed to a post, so far this is the only time either myself or Mark have seen such a thing at a site in the UK. Though Alan has seen a few geocaches at sites, particularly in the Peak District.