The damaged C47 transport that crashed near Wiesbaden, Germany, in July, 1948. The two pilots received minor injuries.

Stars and Stripes

FRANKFURT, July 6 — An Air Force transport plane flying food to Berlin crashed last night, injuring two American airmen, USAFE Hq announced today.

Another plane, returning to Rhine-Main Air Base from Berlin, was slightly damaged by lightning. Members of the crew were uninjured.

It was the first accident in more than 1,100 food-carrying flights to Berlin.

The C47 was badly damaged.

The plane struck a clump of trees about three-fourths of a mile from the Wiesbaden Air Base as it came in for a landing about midnight. It was returning from a cargo flight to Berlin.

The weather at the time of the crash near Wiesbaden was very bad, with poor visibility and a low ceiling. Shortly after the crash, all flights to Berlin were suspended for seven hours.

The pilot of the wrecked plane was identifies by USAFE Hq as Lt Frederick P. Davison. The co-pilot was Lt Harry N. Samms. They were attached to the air ammunition depot at Landsberg. Bath were released after slight medical treatment.
 

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