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Photo Lt Corbin sur fr.findagrave.com
Extrait du rapport de 2Lt Corbin (source: Accident Report-AFHRA):
On 2 December 1944, I piloted a B-26 aircraft n° 42-107628, on mission #155 flying number four position in the high flight of the second box. Upon returning to the home field after completing the mission, we found the weather to be such that ordinary landing procedure was impossible. The formation circled somewhere near the home field for about forty five (45) minutes, waiting divergence to a suitable alternate. At the end of this time the group was instructed to break-up and let down individually through the overcast on a heading of 280°.
I broke out at an estimated 200 feet above the ground, but continued to fly instruments because heavy rain and scattered low clouds made visual flying impossible. My Radio Compass needle kept swinging in a slow circle. Being uncertain of my position and of the nature of the terrain, I climbed to smoother air at 5000 feet while trying to contact Unicorn on VHF, then on Command. Being unsuccessfull, I called Parade on D channel, giving the controller my altitude and the amount of fuel remaining. Parade told me to fly 200° and descend to 2000 feet to look for breaks. I let down to 1000 feet indicated and flew this heading for fifteen minutes, during which time the rain stopped and I judjed the visibility to be from 1/4 to 1/2 miles. I called Parade again received a new heading of 235°. After flyinf this heading for about ten minutes the bombardier, Lt Dunne, sighted a small town crossed by several railroad tracks, and he tried to locate us by doing pilotage; this attempt was not successfull.
A few minutes later, at an indicated altitude of 1000 feet the left engine stopped and I feathered the propellor. The crew members came forward and I instructed then to take crash positions. My enginer and I estimated that the right engine could operate for another ten minutes on the remaining gas. The aircraft was losing altitude, so I called Parade and told them that I was going to Crash land the ship. My message was not answered.
I had klept a large plowed field in sight, so I turned toward it, cut off the good engine and hit the feathering switch. We landed wheele up at 1445 Hours near the village of Courcemain, France. No one was injured.
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