What happened
During a training flight from RAF Sculthorpe toward southern France, two Boeing KB-29P Superfortress aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision. While operating at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the aircraft encountered low visibility caused by adverse weather conditions. The lead aircraft, registered 44-69846, experienced an unexplained reduction in airspeed while flying ahead of the second aircraft.
This loss of speed led to a collision between the two planes. Following the impact, both aircraft lost control and descended into a field located in Morigny, approximately 25 km south of Saint-Lô. The crash resulted in significant casualties across both crews. On board 44-69846, which was carrying ten crew members, only one survivor was recorded. The second aircraft, registered 44-83906, experienced a total of four fatalities and five survivors, with evidence suggesting some crew members managed to bail out before the plane hit the ground.
Findings
The collision occurred because the lead aircraft, 44-69846, suffered an undetermined loss of speed while flying in poor visibility.