Personnel

M/Sgt G.A. Van Gemert  sn#7031353





Subj: Paddlefoot's Proxy......Sept. 6, 1943  

Date: 12/6/2002 5:04:23 AM Pacific Standard Time 

From: dovejoint@hotmail.com 

 

 

 Hi Mike,  I received the copy of the accident report last night about the 

events of Sept. 6, 1943.  Bucky Elton did have a belly landing, but it was 

from a test flight after repairs had been made to the plane.  I am assuming 

repairs made due to the damage received on Sept. 3rd.



Jeff DeLong





Subj: The Paddlefoot  

Date: 12/12/2002 10:17:16 AM Pacific Standard Time 

From: dovejoint@hotmail.com 

To: mpfaley@aol.com 

Sent from the Internet (Details) 

 



Hello Mike,

    Here is the info from the report of Paddledoot's Proxy as told by Capt. 

Elton:



     I took off at 1833, September 6, 1943 to slow time a new engine(no. 3). 

The others aboard were (1) Pilot and Co-Pilot of a replacement crew. (2) Our 

squadran line cheif (engineering).

  At 1925 I attempted to contact the tower for landing instruction and found 

my radio out.  I then attempted to get visual (green light) by flying over 

the field gear down.  The right gear would not extend either electrically or 

manually.  As darkness was approaching I knew that I hed to set it down 

shortly, regardless of the full gas load ( approxamatly 1600 Gls.)  I fired 

a red-red flare on those dry run approaches and dropped a note to the man on 

the tower.  When I sure that all on the ground was ready, ambulances, 

fire-truck, and men in asbestos suits, I landed the ship on the grass 

paralleling our E-W runway.  Nothing unusual happened.



    John B. Kidd added the following:



   A report from the squadran engineering officer stated that the upper 

limit switch failed to operate causing the motor to burn out, and the clutch 

to freeze.  this prevented the gear from being lowered by the hand crank.  

No responsability can be placed upon the crew due to the mechanical nature 

of the failure.  I witnessed the landing which was excellent.



   The report listed J.J Flannigan (CP), G.A. VanGemert (E), and D.E. 

Dunsdon (CP) as the other crew members with Capt. Elton.  It also stated 

that the aircraft was recovered by the 98th Service Squadran.  The accident 

happened Sept. 6, 43 and the report was stamped as received by Headquarters 

Flight Control Command in Winston-Salem, NC on Oct. 2, 43.   The report 

totaled 9 pages.



Jeff DeLong