What caused the American pilot's crash?

A Republics P-47D Thunderbolt, similar to the one flown by 1st Lt Arthur Brown when he crashed in Nantwich. This D model is pictured at East Wretham.

    Alan Clark of Peak District Air Accident Research, says the bubble canopy was used from part way through the production of the D model. He adds: "The aircraft in the photo, 42-8545, was a P-47D-5-RE. 5-RE refers to the production batch and factory. The one which crashed off Shrewbridge Road was from the 1st block, D-1-RE, but they would have looked the same from the outside as most changes between production blocks were internal.

Picture: US Air Force via R.A.Scholefield

Did oxygen problem lead to fatal crash?

DANIEL CORNES B.A. (hons), a graduate from Keele University, North Staffs - who supplied the results of his research - said: "As far as I'm aware this is the most complete research ever done on the crash."    He added: "This is all original primary source research which is in the public domain.   "The airfield information and that of United States

Army Air Force witnesses come from reports held by the US historical research archives at Maxwell Airforce Base, Alabama. The eyewitnesses on the ground are my own research."    Formerly living in Nantwich, Daniel now lives in Betley, near Crewe.    On his screen is a P-47D Thunderbolt aircraft.

Daniel writes:

ON January 14, 1944, 1st Lieutenant Arthur Leslie Brown took off from A.A.F. Station, code F-342,(previously RAF Atcham, Shropshire) on a high-altitude training flight; his aircraft bearing the serial number 42-7925.
   Lieutenant Brown was flying the latest model of Republics P47 Multipurpose attack plane, the P47D. Despite being a relatively experienced pilot, with over 321 hours in his log book, Brown had only 15 hours logged on this type to date.
   The P47 was the largest single-engine fighter aircraft of World War Two weighing in at over nine tons when fully loaded; three times the weight of a Spitfire [1].  The range which the P47 offered enabled the American daylight bombing offensive to have fighter protection all the way to Germany and back.
   However, the nature and date of this training flight would suggest that Brown was in training for D-Day which would follow some five months later. It is within the scope of imagination that Brown, should he have survived, would have been part of the high-altitude umbrella cover for the invasion of Europe.

   Shortly after 14:00, the flight, probably consisting of 12-plus aircraft, was over Nantwich having just completed the first of their high-altitude crossover turns.

   At this point, Captain Potter, who was leading the formation, noticed that one aircraft was missing from Purple section.

   Captain Potter tried to call the missing aircraft but received no response. He then requested the controller at Atcham to call Brown but unfortunately they, too, received no response.
   During the crossover turn, Staff Sergeant Decker was in the formation above Brown's and observed as Brown's aircraft broke from the formation and was seen to make several sharp turns, climbs, and dives. Next time Decker glanced back he noted only two aircraft in Purple section.

   The official investigation conclusion from the USAAF states that Brown suffered from anoxia - insufficient oxygen in the body tissues - as a result of a failure in his breathing apparatus. Although it is dependant on the individual, most people require oxygen from 8,000 to 12,000 feet upwards and we know that Brown was flying at 22,000 to 24,000 feet from the statement of S/Sgt Decker.
   At this point it is worth addressing some witness testimonies given by those on the ground. Several eye witnesses that day say they saw Lieutenant Brown's aircraft performing reckless aerobatics prior to the crash. In addition, one eye witness reports seeing smoke trailing from the plane in question.

   It is likely that the manoeuvres performed by the plane were simply those of a plane with an unconscious pilot at the controls and the smoke that some witnesses on the ground reported were simply the vapour trails as the plane dived from high altitude; typically vapour trails are seen on aircraft operating above 15,000ft as was the case in question.

   Lieutenant Brown's aircraft impacted the ground at high speed at approximately 14:10. Witnesses report a loud bang upon impact but no fire was seen thereafter and the aircraft quickly sank into the ground leaving little for RAF salvage teams who arrived shortly after the accident.

Conclusion:
From the evidence encountered, I would have to conclude that Lieutenant Brown was rendered unconscious by an unknown cause, most likely to be related to oxygen delivery equipment failure.

   This clearly goes against the popular opinion that Brown deliberately avoided the town but does not in any way serve to degrade the status of Brown's memory; ultimately Brown was a brave airman who made the supreme sacrifice so that Nantwich and the rest of Europe could be free.

    Lieutenant Brown's true resting place is approximately 15 to 30 feet to the left of the current gravestone as you face it. Some reports have stated Lt Brown crashed into the river but photographs held by the USAAF disprove this theory. [2]