Bridgeport, CT – May 25, 1942

Bridgeport, Connecticut – May 25, 1942

    

P-40 Warhawk  U.S. Air Force Photo

P-40 Warhawk
U.S. Air Force Photo

     On May 25, 1942, an army pilot was landing a P-40F, (#41-13814), at Bridgeport Airport, when he misjudged the distance and undershot the runway.  The landing gear was folded backwards when it struck an earthen bank at the end of the runway, causing the plane to hit the runway on its belly and slide to a stop.  Although the plane suffered considerable damage, the pilot was uninjured.   

     Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident, #42-5-25-5 

Bridgeport Airport, CT – May 21, 1942

Bridgeport Airport, Connecticut – May 21, 1942

    

P-36C  Ser. No. 38-204 Bridgeport, Connecticut May 21, 1942

P-36C Ser. No. 38-204
Bridgeport, Connecticut
May 21, 1942

     At 7:40 p.m. on May 21, 1942, 2nd Lt. George D. Hobbs was returning to Bridgeport Airport after an interception mission when he discovered that the landing gear on his P-36C airplane (Ser. No. 38-204) wouldn’t come down using the electric switch, so he was forced to bring the wheels down manually.  He then discovered that the flaps weren’t working either.  After trying to work them manually, he came in for a landing, but the brakes failed after touchdown, and the aircraft continued on into a dyke at the end of the runway.   Although the aircraft suffered damage, Lt. Hobbs was not injured.

     Lt. Hobbs was assigned to the 61st Pursuit Squadron (I) based in Bridgeport, Ct.

     Source: U.S. Army Air Corps Technical Report Of Aircraft Accident #42-5-21-28.  Photo of aircraft is from the  report.       

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