1 Air Division
Beechcraft Crash

Extracts from the 2 Wing Historical Reports

7 Apr 53

This unit received most disheartening news at 1730 hours when Flying Control was informed Air Division Beechcraft had forced landed with an engine failure in the Sarreguemines area. Immediately aircraft this unit, 3 (F) Wing, and USAF Search and Rescue Unit attached to 4 ATAF all went into action and without much difficulty, the Beechcraft was located. Information received revealed that A/V/M HL Campbell, AOC, A/C KLB Hodson, Chief of Staff, G/C RM Cox, Senior Staff Officer, W/C RA Ashman, Senior Personnel Staff Officer, as well as the two pilots were critically injured. This was confirmed later with the exception of W/C Ashman, who received only superficial injuries. All parties concerned are now on the serious injured list and confined to St. Elizabeth Hospital, Landstuhl. The exact extent of their injuries is not known.

Reports have officially been received from USAF Hospital in Landstuhl, where members of the crashed Beechcraft in which the AOC, 1 Air Division and his party are now hospitalized. Apparently all are suffering from broken backs and are now on the serious injury list.

Salvage crews from this unit proceeding to the Sarreguemines area where the Beechcraft of 1 Air Division is resting. Formal Board of Inquiry has been convened and AIB representative from London, S/L A Elvis is expected to assist the Board. A/C WR MacBrien, has now been temporarily appointed AOC, 1 Air Division HQ in lieu of G/C C Hull.

Additional Comments from Jean-Guy Choquette

It would appear that 3 Wing had borrowed a bowser from 2 Wing. This bowser had been used to carry water at 2 Wing. When the bowser reached 3 Wing, it was still half filled with water. The personnel at 3 Wing assumed the bowser was half filled with fuel and proceeded to fill the bowser with JP4 jet fuel. The fact that the bowser then contained 50% water and 50% JP4 was not determined until after the crash.