7 marzo 1945 - Baltimore V nr. FW768 - Cesenatico (RA)

NO. 15 SQUADRON SAAF WAR DIARY Oprep Nr. 15s/181 for 24 hrs. Ending 2100 hrs. L.T. 7 MAR. 45 - OPERATION NO. 1-Recce roads Codigoro-Adria-Padua-Rivigo-Ostellato.

T. Lt. Ryland and Lt. Warner A/B 06 2300 on above recce and bombing of stores at M 486886. A/C returned to base but coming in to land overshot, took engine and while A/C was making circuit was seen to crash into sea about 3 miles from the aerodrome.

Again on the 7th March Lt. Ryland Pilot, Lt. Warner Observer, W/O Howe and Kruger WOP/AG and A/G, were seen to crash into the sea just off Cesenatico, after taking engine following a bad landing approach after an operation. Again no trace was found of the aircraft or occupants. Both these accidents are attributed to insufficient attention being paid to Flying Instruments.

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/usafserials.html: Douglas Martin A-30A-10-MA 43-8925 to RAF as Baltimore V FW768. Crashed into sea on overshoot, Cesenatico, Italy Mar 7, 1945.

Come viene riportato dal War Diary del 15 Squadron, l'aereo arrivò lungo in atterraggio, il pilota diede motore e durante la manovra di circuito per ripetere la procedura precipitò in mare 3 miglia al largo delle pista. Non ci furono superstiti ed i corpi degli aviatori non furono ritrovati. Sono ricordati al Malta Memorial.

Nel diario viene evidenziata la insufficiente attenzione prestata dagli equipaggi agli strumenti di volo come principale causa degli incidenti.

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