Lockheed P-38G Lightning 42-12753 - Crashed - Langford Lodge

On the 16th December 1942 at 16:15 hrs - 2nd Lt Scott Giles, of the 96th Fighter Squadron based at Eglinton Londonderry, took off from Langford Lodge to deliver P-38G 42-12753 to Eglinton, the aircraft having been modified at Langford Lodge. He circled the field and "buzzed" the field. Circled the field again and "buzzed" the field a second time. On pulling out the second time the aircraft went clear over in a loop and crashed into Runway Number one the North/South Runway a few hundred yards after the intersection.

(Below) Doug Eastwoods Diary Entry - an employee of the Lockheed Overseas Corp based at Langford

The second crash in a week. Flown by Scott Giles of Pasadena. He said he would give the boys a real show if there was two grease spots on the runway that would be him. He took of made a big inside loop, straightened out twice as he was coming down, and hit the runway at about a forty five degree angle. Parts flew every direction for hundreds of feet and then burst into flames.

Flames were higher than the trees between the runway and the engine test stand. I was working on Rosebud #22 and saw everything from start to finish. I got to the remains of the plane before the fire engine or the ambulance. The pilot’s body was lying, blazing, about one or two hundred yards from where he hit, bullets were exploding and flying all around. Later the bulldozer cleaned the runway off.

2nd Lt Scott K Giles

96th Fighter Squadron - 82nd Fighter Group

16th December 1942

Pasadena USA