RAF P51-C Mustang SR 411 on Darwen Moor, Lancashire
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P51-C Mustang SR 411
This view is looking towards Bury.
Flown by Polish airman Herbert Noga on 29 July 1945, it appeared Noga was unaware of his height in the low cloud as his Mustang hit the moor at cruising speed.
The last mission of the war (probably) for this P51-C Mustang was to support a bombing raid on Hitler’s Bavarian pad at Berchtesgaden on April 25 1945, among 240 Mustangs escorting 359 Lancaster bombers.
Grid reference SD 69156 19168
SR 411 crashed the same day as this Barracuda
Have I been to this one Ian ? Did we visit this site one evening ?
I cannot recall it looking like this if honest . I suppose it was quite dark 🙂
” it appeared Noga was unaware of his height in the low cloud as his Mustang hit the moor at cruising speed.” – That is sad, and could also be suggestive of something sinister like carbon monoxide poisoning / unresponsive pilot .. or if the site suggests more damage, a case of spatial disorientation .. i guess there are plenty of reasons to speculate. However, a sad way to go, the Polish did so well fighting for the cause.
Thanks Ang. Yes all kinds of possibilities. Maybe was pissed off at the fate of Poland after the war and wasn’t concentrating 100%…? Who knows?
Good picture, Ian.
I’ve recently read a book by Witold Herbst, who served in the 303 and 308 Fighter Squadrons, and he said that half of his fallen comrades died in accidents not in combat…
I haven’t found any information about Herbert Noga, apart from his photo at http://niebieskaeskadra.pl/?control=8&id=850
Some interesting information about this aircraft at http://laituk.org/Mustang%20SR411%20article.htm
Thanks Robin, very sad that many died in training accidents. That’s a nice photo of Herbert Noga.