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PHOTO CREDITS

OL WITCH

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42-95194

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JOHN WOOLNOUGH

Contributor - Michael Harris
Crashed at 12:30 hours 9 Apr 45 while taking-off from Attlebridge for a mission to Lechfeld, Germany. The left main wheel picked up a discarded bomb hook while taxiing to the runway. The ship started the take-off run when the L/Waist Gunner, S/Sgt. John P. Gimpel noticed the hook embedded in the tire. As the speed increased, the hook flew out of the tire and hit the gear strut. By this time Gimpel had disconnected his interphone to to move forward to his take-off position so couldn't warn the Pilot, 1st Lt. James R. McKinlay. OL WITCH reached around 110 m.p.h. before veering to the left and leaving the runway where it ground looped - turning approximately 160 degrees and collapsing the undercarriage before coming to rest. All members of the crew were uninjured. The aircraft was inspected by Lt Farr & his team from the Field Engineering Sub depot and classed E-1 (salvage). OL WITCH was salvaged on 9th & 10th Apr 45.

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