At 10.30am on Monday, 8th January, 1945, F/O Albert Gentile left USAAF Mount Farm, near Berinsfield, on a high altitude training flight. Half an hour later, he radioed asking for advice as there was a lack of manifold pressure. He then reported that both engines feathered at an altitude of 13,000 feet and that he was unable to start either engine. He was advised to bail out if the aircraft was not under control at 3,000 feet. His last transmission stated he was at 2,600 feet.
The plane crashed into Old Farm House in Toot Baldon and burst into flames, damaging the house. Mr and Mrs Taylor lived at the Farm House. Mr John Waring Taylor was a farm labourer. Mrs Taylor and the two children were taken to The Radcliffe Infirmary. The baby, Joy Marie (aged 3 months), died the same day and Colin (aged 4 years) died the following day. Mrs Taylor, though injured, survived.
The canopy of the aircraft was found, undamaged, in Garsington. The nineteen year old pilot’s body was found in a field, a little South of a pond, just North East of Toot Baldon. Investigators found his parachute unopened and concluded that he may have hit a part of the aircraft before he could pull the rip cord.
Jack Druce, Graham’s grandfather, found the pilot’s body in the field North East of Toot Baldon.
US Official Reports and Newspaper Articles
US Flying Control Officer’s Report 8th January, 1945
US Aircraft Accident Committee Report 5th February, 1945
Dundee Evening Telegraph 9th January, 1945
Oxford Times 12th January, 1945
Map showing crash site, where pilot was found and direction of aircraft.
Grateful thanks to Bill Jackson from whom much of the information originally came, Graham Druce and Alan Johns for the details they supplied.