| Event Date: 1943-06-12 |
| SORTIE DATA: | ||
| COMBAT CREDIT | STATUS | TARGET ATTACKED (MODE) |
| No |
Crashed In Allied Territory Comments: Involved in a collision with aircraft 42‑30036 on short final while landing at Grafton Underwood after a training mission. Pilot of 42‑30036 (2Lt Ellwood Kowalski) executed a pull-up maneuver upon observing red light from control tower and struck aircraft 42‑30131 which was just above. All five crew aboard Kowalski's aircraft were killed: crew aboard Lt Witt's aircraft survived uninjured. Aircraft 42‑30036 was not following established traffic pattern prior to collision. |
Non-Combat Sortie |
| SORTIE AIRCRAFT DATA: | ||||
| TYPE | SERIAL NUMBER | SQUADRON | SQ CODE | NAME |
| B-17F | 42‑30131 ⇗ | 547th | SO*Q | not known |
| SORTIE CREW DATA: | |||
| POSITION | CREWMEMBER | UNIT | STATUS |
| Pilot | Witt, Francis John, Jr⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Co-pilot | Carter, T L (IO)⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Navigator | Harris, Arthur Claude⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Bombardier | Derer, Joseph, Jr⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Radio Operator | Sears, William Francis⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Observer | Knapek, Cyril Frank⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Observer | Brasiel, Frank William⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| Observer | Titman, Boyd William Charles⇗ | 547 | Completed, Uninjured |
| SORTIE-RELATED DOCUMENTS: | |
| TYPE | IDENTIFICATION |
| ACCIREP | Accident Report # 43-06-12-502⇗ |