BennoT6
March 1, 2014 at 4:28 pm

Steeple Morden, September 11 1944; Harvard crash

Hi forum readers,

In my records a crash of a Harvard IIB is listed; September 11 1944, 1 m east of Steeple Morden with pilot Robert G. BERTELSON. The serial given for the aircraft is 43-13984. However this is not a Harvard serial. What is the correct serial? Any further details?

Thanks in advanc for your help.

Regards,

Benno, The Netherlands

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By: BennoT6 - 3rd March 2014 at 10:32

Hi Pimpernel,

Thanks for feedback. The reason for questioning this is pretty simple; 43-13984 just isn’t a Harvard or AT-6D serial 🙂

The USAAF ETO used several AT-16-ND Harvards, these were (e.g.) 43-12881, 43,12888, 43-12968, 43-12977, 43-12982, 43-12984, 43-12994, 43-13048. All initially supposed to go to the RAF.
The USAAF ETO used several AT-6D Texans, these were (e.g.) 41-34609 / 41-34625. There were no AT-6Ds at all with FY43.

Although there are several publications “telling” it’s a AT-6D and “telling” it’s 43-13984 this simply is not correct. Most likely it’s 43-12984, a Harvard IIB, which was supposed to become RAF FT243.

Regards,

Benno

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By: pimpernel - 1st March 2014 at 20:21

Hi BennoT6.

I have searched in my books and on the web but everything keeps stating that the serial 43-13984 is an AT6D. The pilot killed when engine caught fire and crashed.

Can I ask why you think the serial is not from this aircraft?