P-38 crash on USS Randolph

[Barrett]

On June 7 '45 two P-38s buzzed USS Randolph (CV-15) at anchor off Leyte. One Lightning pilot cut it too close and crashed on deck, killing himself and 11 sailors.

The only thing I've found is that the '38s were on a ferry mission, so they don't show on any unit roster. For some reason the incident is not on the aviation archaeology site showing losses outside the Continental US.

Any leads?

[comiso90]

this site has people who were there.

Personal Experience> USS Randolph la CV 38

Two US P-38s made a" mock straffing" run on us, one of the planes whipped stalled and came back and struck air planes sitting on the flight deck, it knocked several planes off the deck and killed several.Our guns started firing on the second , we refered to the event as the day the US AF declared war on the Navy, The remaining P-38 flew away.The barge moved away with no damage.About 35 years later, while talking to another member of the USPS he was tailing about the day that two P_38s hit a carrier laying at anchor in the Philippines. I said that I was on the carrier that was hit, he then said the he was the Chief Boatswain on the Ammo barge.

[hotflyer]

My father was killed in this accident but I have been unable to find out any details on the web. Does anyone know where I can get information about this accident?

Originally Posted by Barrett

On June 7 '45 two P-38s buzzed USS Randolph (CV-15) at anchor off Leyte. One Lightning pilot cut it too close and crashed on deck, killing himself and 11 sailors.

The only thing I've found is that the '38s were on a ferry mission, so they don't show on any unit roster. For some reason the incident is not on the aviation archaeology site showing losses outside the Continental US.

Any leads?

[comiso90]

contact these people... I'm sure they will help:

USS Randolph CV CVA CVS-15. A tribute to the USS Randolph and her crews.

.

[TonyM]

Originally Posted by Barrett

On June 7 '45 two P-38s buzzed USS Randolph (CV-15) at anchor off Leyte. One Lightning pilot cut it too close and crashed on deck, killing himself and 11 sailors.

The only thing I've found is that the '38s were on a ferry mission, so they don't show on any unit roster. For some reason the incident is not on the aviation archaeology site showing losses outside the Continental US.

Any leads?

According to AAF Aircraft Accident Brief:

The airplane was an F-5E.

Lockheed F-5E # 44-24559

Pilot was Capt. P. Gillespie. He was killed in the crash.

The accident occurred at 1545 (I am guessing that would be local time)

Four USN personnel killed; 14 USN personnel seriously injured.

Ten USN aircraft were destroyed and the carrier suffered serious damage on the forward flight deck.

The AAF Aircraft Accident Brief # 883 can be found on:

AAF Aircraft Accident Reports Microfilm
Call # 46521, June 7, 1945, Accident # 507.

Hope this helps. Good Luck with your research.

Tony Mireles


__________________________________________________ ____________

Anthony J. Mireles

FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS
IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945

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[TonyM]

Originally Posted by Barrett

For some reason the incident is not on the aviation archaeology site showing losses outside the Continental US.

This crash is indeed listed on Fuller's AAIR overseas accident index at Aviation Archaeology Research and Investigation. The crash is listed as occurring at Leyte, Phillipines. It is not listed as USS Randolph. The data base lists geographic crash location in the index, not objects or ships that an airplane might have crashed into.

TonyM