Midair Collision of 5 USAS DH4s(?)

[4thGordons]

I am trying to track down any details of this incident. I have a letter, written 40 years after the war which mentions the following midair collision involving five aircraft:

"Further, the worst accident in the history of American air service up to that time, occurred at the

Trier field while we were there. I do not recall the name or number of the outfit, but I believe it

was the 12th squadron. They were equipped with come-lately American Liberties, and had their

own temporary hangars near post headquarters. Five of their planes collided near our field while

flying routine formation and the five pilots were killed."

Looking through Wings of Honor (Sloan) and other sources I have not been able to discover the details of this accident or identify the unit or pilots involved, Nor have I been able to find any online references to the incident. If anyone could point me in the right direction I would be very grateful.

Chris

[Dolphin]

Chris

I can't find mention of the accident in The DH4/DH9 File.

As far as I can determine the 12th Aero Squadron remained in the US during the War, based at Mitchel Field, New York, from 17 June 1918 to 6 July 1919, when it moved to Scott Field, Illinois.

Hopefully, someone else will have more luck.

Gareth

[4thGordons]

Chris

I can't find mention of the accident in The DH4/DH9 File.

As far as I can determine the 12th Aero Squadron remained in the US during the War, based at Mitchel Field, New York, from 17 June 1918 to 6 July 1919, when it moved to Scott Field, Illinois.

Hopefully, someone else will have more luck.

Gareth

Thanks Gareth,

I am really struggling to find any mention of this at all, which is odd as everything else in the letter seems to accord with the official records I have.

I will keep digging and broaden a bit to look at other A/C types and possible squadrons!

Apologies for the delayed response - I was away for the weekend.

Chris

[Carmania]

Chris

I've been looking in Gorrell's History but no luck so far.

Aled

[centurion]

The event would have to be in August 1918 or later as Liberty engined Dh4s did not reach the front until then (the overwhelming majority of Liberty engined Dh 4s were DH4b s (with a similar seating arrangement to the DH9 but without the Dh9a wings) which arrived too late for the war.

[4thGordons]

The event would have to be in August 1918 or later as Liberty engined Dh4s did not reach the front until then (the overwhelming majority of Liberty engined Dh 4s were DH4b s (with a similar seating arrangement to the DH9 but without the Dh9a wings) which arrived too late for the war.

Yes this would have been a POST WAR accident when several US Aero squadrons were at Trier/Treves.

It seems that 100th Bombardment Sqdr were equipped with DH4s at Treves (I found a picture of their aircraft in the Zeppelin hangar there) 16 members of this unit had drowned with the sinking of the SS Tuscania

but I can still find no mention of the apparent crash.

Chris

EDIT: another candidate may be the 50th Aero which, according to Gorrell files in Maurer were equipped with DH4s

[4thGordons]

Chris

As far as I can determine the 12th Aero Squadron remained in the US during the War, based at Mitchel Field, New York, from 17 June 1918 to 6 July 1919, when it moved to Scott Field, Illinois.

Gareth

Gareth

According to Sloan the 12th became operational on the 9th of May 1918, he lists several crew as KIA or POW so I assumed they were in Europe. I will check further.

Chris

[Dolphin]

Gareth

According to Sloan the 12th became operational on the 9th of May 1918, he lists several crew as KIA or POW so I assumed they were in Europe. I will check further.

Chris

Chris

Of course, you're correct; the 12th did serve on the Western Front. The reference I looked was only concerned with units operating DH-4s, and the 12th Aero Sqn used Dorand AR-1s and Salmson 2A.2s on active service.

Regards

Gareth