Hello, the IWM says "Dakota" but to me the wreckage looks a bit like a C-46 Commando - for me it is difficult to tell from the pieces that are left after the crash on March 24th 1945 in the British sector on the west bank of the Rhine. What do the experts say? BURNING WRECKAGE OF CRASHED DOUGLAS DAKOTA AIRCRAFT AT XANTEN, GERMANY [Allocated Title] | Imperial War Museums (iwm.org.uk)
The rounded rudder speaks pretty clearly for a C-46 The C-47 rudder would have a recognizable kink at the upper edge
The C46 was introduced as the US paratrooper transport for Operation Varsity, the airborne crossing of the Rhine. The aircraft had two rear exit doors, either side of the fuselage, taking advantage of a rapid exit from the aircraft plus it had greater troop carrying capacity. C47s were employed as glider tugs. The footage carries the date of the operation of 24 March 1945. No indication of any associated glider.
Thanks Alex1975uk! Adam Berry seems the right one to ask - actually, I had an indirect contact with him via Dutch IX TCC expert Hans den Brok.
Of the 19 C-46 that crashed on that day only two came down west of the Rhine - one made a "soft belly landing" as the pilot reported. The other one was #44-77645 piloted by Lt. Dudley P Rose. All crew members jumped from the burning plane and survived. I believe it came down northwest of Menzelen (MR 155375). "77645 (MSN 33041/CU1577) delivered to USAAF 05/1/45. While attached to 313th TCG aircraft took part in Operation Varsity (Allied Airborne Assault Over the Rhine River)as Chalk 44 radio call sign V. On 24 March 1945 it was damaged by flak. When it made run in with both gas tanks on fire, aircraft exploded when it struck the ground One paratrooper refused to jump , reason unknown."
