Republic P47D Thunderbolt 42-7897

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NPRN515085
Map ReferenceSJ14SE
Grid ReferenceSJ1527342155
Unitary (Local) AuthorityDenbighshire
Old CountyMerioneth
CommunityCorwen
Type Of SiteAIR CRASH SITE
PeriodModern
Description
The remains of this aircraft are designated as a Controlled Site under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986. The Act makes it an offence to interfere with the wreckage of any crashed, sunken or stranded military aircraft without a licence. For further information on this Act and its administration with regard to aircraft, please contact the Joint Casualty and Compassionate Centre, RAF Innsworth, Gloucester, GL3 1RZ.

Only a few small fragments are reported to remain insitu.

Event and Historical Information:
This Thunderbolt was assigned to 8 Fighter Command. The aircraft had taken off from RAF Atcham near Shrewsbury, and was flying in 3-plane formation on a low-flying exercise. The leader made a 180 degree turn to port on approaching the hills because the weather looked too poor to continue, On completing the turn, the leader missed his number 2. This occurred after approximately 15 minutes of flying and approximately 10 minutes later the crash occurred. Eyewitnesses suggest that the plane was in trouble with an engine missing and giving out smoke. The investigators noted that the plane cleared the top of a hill, from south to north and first touched the ground on the slope about 25ft down on the other side, showing that it was in a glide. The plane touched down tail first, held off, dragging the tail for about 100yards. After this the prop hit, and chewed up the ground for 50 yards, the tail assembly broke off in front of the turbo and the engine broke off. The remainder of the fuselage cart wheeled down the slope. The crewman killed was 2nd Lt Raymond A Sprague (the pilot's seat broke loose and he was flung out 25 yards from the fuselage's final resting place).

Sources include:
Hankinson, R and Spencer, J, 2014, Military Aircraft Crash Sites: Scheduling Enhancement Programme
US Army Air Force Report of Aircraft Accident 44-07-18-501, RCAHMW Digital Collections.

WWW resources:
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/SPVA/AviationArchaeology.htm
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/wales42-7897.htm

Maritime Officer, RCAHMW, October 2015.