Republic P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75101 of the 495th FTG USAAF, crashed on Mynydd Copog near Dolgellau on the 4th May 1944

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

John W. Beauchamp 1st Lieutenant Pilot Killed

 

The pilot was performing authorised aerobatics and local flying from Atcham near Shrewsbury, he had flown west across mid Wales and during a series of rolls drifted over higher ground. He lost control of the aircraft which entered a spin, he managed to recover from the spin but had insufficient height to regain level flight before the aircraft struck the top of the hill and broke up.

Crash site of Republic P-47 42-75101 on Mynydd Copog, Dolgellau, Wales
A photo taken by Mark of myself holding a piece of the aircraft, it is very hard to see but the colour on the top of the part is blue. It is a piece of skinning that has the edge of the ‘Star and Bar’ on it.
Engine at the crash site of Republic P-47 42-75101 on Mynydd Copog, Dolgellau, Wales
This photo shows the remains of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp engine from the aircraft.
Wreckage at the crash site of Republic P-47 42-75101 on Mynydd Copog, Dolgellau, Wales
The wreckage is scattered both inside a forestry plantation and along the edge. This shot shows the wreckage along the edge of the plantation.
Accident report photograph of the crash site of Republic P-47 42-75101 on Mynydd Copog, Dolgellau, Wales
A slightly different shot to the previous ones. This is from the USAAF crash report and shows the hill before the trees were planted that now cover the site. The stone wall visible in the third photo can be seen at the bottom right of this shot. Thanks: Mike Stowe
Grave of 1st Lieutenant John Beauchamp, pilot of Republic P-47 42-75101, at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Francisco CA
After being initially buried in the UK 1st Lt Beauchamp was later re-interred at the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Francisco, California