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| RAAF 1 PRU Former Assignments 1 AD USAAF  John Hopton 1942 |
Pilot Flt Lt Alan Thomas Cridland, 260424 (KIA, BR) Edgecliff, NSW Crashed November 20, 1942 Aircraft History Built by Lockheed Aircraft Corporation (LAC) in Burbank. Construction Number 5377. At the Lockheed Factory, converted from a P-38E Lightning into a F-4 photographic reconnaissance version. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as F-4-1-LO Lightning serial number 41-2159. Disassembled and shipped overseas to Australia and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as F-4-1-LO Lightning serial number A55-2. On September 4, 1942 received by 1 Air Depot (1 AD) at Laverton Field. On October 16, 1942 assigned to 1 PRU. On October 30, 1942 took off from Laverton Airfield with F-4 Lightning A55-1 on a ferry flight to Hughes Field (30 Mile). Mission History On November 20, 1942 took off from Hughes Field (30 Mile) piloted by Flt Lt Alan T. Cridland and suffered an engine failure. While attempting to go around to land, crashed two miles west of Livingstone Field (34 Mile). The pilot was killed in the crash and aircraft destroyed. Wreckage On November 24, 1942 the wreckage was received by 1 RSU. On December 18, 1942 converted to components and likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Memorials Cridland was officially declared dead the day of the mission. He is buried in Adelaide River War Cemetery at G.B.15. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - F-4-1-LO Lightning 41-2159 "2159 to RAAF as A55-2 11/1942. Crashed 2 mi W of Livingstone, N.T. Nov 20, 1942. Pilot killed." ADF Serials - Lockheed Lightning A55-2 The Lockheed File - A55-1, A55-2, A55-3 CWGC - Alan Thomas Cridland Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated April 19, 2021 |
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