1944 Mull of Galloway Douglas C-47 crash
| Occurrence | |
|---|---|
| Date | 27 July 1944 |
| Summary | Controlled flight into terrain due to poor visibility |
| Site | Mull of Galloway, Wigtownshire, Scotland |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Douglas C-47A Skytrain |
| Aircraft name | Dakota |
| Operator | United States Army Air Forces |
| Registration | 42-93038 |
| Flight origin | RAF Merryfield, Somerset |
| 1st stopover | Filton, England |
| 2nd stopover | Prestwick, Scotland |
| 3rd stopover | Keflavík, Iceland |
| 4th stopover | Godthåb, Greenland |
| 5th stopover | Gander, Canada |
| 6th stopover | Boston, Massachusetts |
| Destination | New York City, New York |
| Occupants | 22 |
| Passengers | 17 |
| Crew | 5 |
| Fatalities | 22 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 0 |
The 1944 Mull of Galloway Douglas C-47 crash occurred on 27 July 1944, when a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (military version of the DC-3), serial number 42-93038, crashed into cliffs at the Mull of Galloway in Wigtownshire, Scotland. All 22 people on board were killed.
Aircraft
The Douglas DC-3 was developed in the 1930s as a result of airline interest in a larger, more capable airliner. Modified from the DC-2, the DC-3 first flew on 17 December 1935. It was later adapted for military use as the C-47 Skytrain, with modifications including a cargo door, reinforced flooring, hoist attachment, and glider-towing capabilities. Over 10,000 C-47s were produced during World War II.
Accident
On 27 July 1944, C-47A 42-93038 departed Filton near Bristol, England, transporting 17 wounded American servicemen from the Normandy landings and 5 crew members. The aircraft was en route to Prestwick, Scotland, as part of a multi-leg journey to the United States, which included stops in Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and Boston.
Flying in poor visibility, the C-47 was one of two aircraft traveling together. The lead aircraft, 42-93038, maintained low altitude so that the trailing plane could stay in visual contact. As it neared the Scottish mainland, the aircraft flew toward the Mull of Galloway, a headland with cliffs rising over 400 feet (120 m). The pilots, unaware of their proximity to the terrain due to fog and low visibility, attempted to gain altitude too late.[1]
The plane struck the cliffs just below the crest, about six feet short of clearing the top, and crashed, killing everyone on board.[2]
Victims
While initial report stated 24 people aboard,[3] there were 22 people aboard the aircraft consisting of 17 wounded servicemen and 5 crew members.[2]
Memorials
A memorial plaque was installed at the crash site and unveiled on 27 July 1999, marking the 55th anniversary of the tragedy. The metal plaque is mounted on a rockface, approximately 7 feet off the ground, and surrounded by fragments of the wreckage, some of which are embedded into the rock. A related memorial also exists at the Portpatrick Lifeboat Station.[2]
See also
References
- ^ Gero, David (1999). Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. Patrick Stephens Limited.
- ^ a b c "Mull of Galloway Air Crash Memorial". U.S. War Memorials. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
- ^ "Van nabij en verre". Het Nationale Dagblad. 31 July 1944. Retrieved 24 May 2025 – via Delpher.