Crash of a P-39D Airacobra at Archerfield Airfield, Brisbane, Queensland on 31 March 1942

CRASH OF A P-39D AIRACOBRA
AT ARCHERFIELD AIRFIELD
ON 31 MARCH 1942

On 31 March 1942, two 35th Pursuit Squadron pilots, 2nd Lieutenant Hervey B. Carpenter and 2nd Lieutenant Arther E. Andres, were taking part in a transfer flight from Archerfield Airfield to Amberley Airfield.

At 0750 hours on 31 March 1942, a USAAF P-39D Airacobra #40-3022, piloted by 2nd Lt. Hervey B. Carpenter, crashed after taking off into a tree during foggy conditions at Archerfield Airfield in Brisbane, Queensland. The aircraft burst into flames and continued for 150 yards before striking the ground. It rolled down a slope for another 100 yards and became a complete wreck.

Private Horace Summers (Q123835) of the 1st Battalion Volunteer Defence Corps and Warrant Officer Charles Surtees Mason (No 4636) of 23 Squadron RAAF rescued the American pilot, 2nd Lieutenant Hervey B. Carpenter, from the burning aircraft. Warrant Officer Charles Mason was awarded the MBE and Private Horace Summers was awarded the British Empire Medal for their rescue of the American pilot. Warrant Officer Mason ordered a sergeant to arrange for an ambulance and fire tender.

The citation for the award for Private Horace Summers reads, in part :–

“Private H. Summers, 1st Bn V.D.C., together with W.O. C.S. Mason, R.A.A.F., acting with total disregard of their own personal safety were responsible for the saving of the life of 2 Lieut. Carpenter, U.S.A. Air Force."

"The ‘plane piloted by Lieut. Carpenter collided with a tree and came to ground a tangled burning mass. Pte Summers showing commendable initiative, courage and resourcefulness ran to the burning ‘plane and assisted W.O. C.S. Mason R.A.A.A.F. to free Lieutenant Carpenter from the wreckage. During this time the ‘plane was burning fiercely and ammunition exploding. Had it not been for the courage so displayed by Pte Summers the pilot would have been burned to death.”

The entry in the London Gazette dated 12 February 1943, for both men reads in full as follows:-

"On the 31st March, 1942, in fog conditions, an Airacobra aircraft struck the top of a tree in a dispersal area, burst into flames and continued for approximately 150 yards before hitting the ground, rolling down a slope for a further hundred yards as a complete wreck. Flying Officer Mason followed the direction of the aircraft after it had collided with the tree and instructed an airman to telephone immediately for the ambulance and fire tender and to despatch the dispersal point fire extinguishers to the scene of the accident. Private Summers joined Flying Officer Mason at the scene of the crash. On first viewing the wreckage Flying Officer Mason thought that the pilot had been killed outright but quickly detected movements in the cockpit and, despite the fact that portions of the wreckage were burning fiercely, and ammunition was discharging from six magazines, he and his companion dashed in to rescue the pilot who was unconscious and jammed in the compartment by bent sections of the cockpit. Cannon shell was also in the magazines and the possibility of its discharging as the flames and heat increased was ever present. Assisted by Private Summers, Flying Officer Mason unfastened the safety belt. The locking device for the belt was a type which neither had seen before. Wreckage had to be pulled away from the pilot's left leg and right arm before he could be extricated. Difficulty was experienced owing to the absence of any device with which to prise apart the obstructions holding the pilot in the cockpit. Flying Officer Mason worked with speed and precision and was successful in releasing both limbs. Nevertheless, during the process, it was necessary in the course of removing the crumpled rudder bar from the pilot's left foot, to move still closer to the flames and in doing so Flying Officer Mason was burnt on the left arm. Finally, before the pilot could be dragged clear, it was necessary to untangle or unlock the parachute harness. The latter process proved difficult and as the flames continued to spread, it was clear that speed was now essential if the pilot's life was to be saved. Flying Officer Mason therefore dragged the tangled harness clear of the burning aircraft while Private Summers held the pilot who was then carried clear and conveyed to the station hospital by ambulance."

The Mercury (Hobart, Tasmania), Tuesday 21 December 1943

Deeds That Will Live For Ever

F Officer Charles Surtees Mason, RAAF, and Pte Horace Summers, Volunteer Defence Corps, Queensland, were awarded the MBE and British Empire Medal respectively for saving the life of a pilot whose aircraft struck the top of a tree in a dispersal area, and burst into flames. Despite the fact that portions of the wreckage were burning fiercely and ammunition was discharging from six magazines, the two men dashed in to rescue the pilot, who was unconscious and jammed in the compartment by bent sections of the cockpit. In addition to removing wreckage, it was necessary to untangle or unlock the parachute harness as the flames continued to spread before the pilot could be dragged clear.

Private Horace Summers was the first member of the Volunteer Defence Corps to be awarded a decoration. Group A Commander of the V.D.C. Lieutenant Colonel L. R. Ferguson, paid tribute to Private Summers as follows:-

"He has been doing a great job with us for about 12 months. We are all proud of the honour paid to him as a V.D.C. man - the first to be so honoured."

The 35th and 36th and 80th Fighter Squadrons from the US Army Air Corps 8th Fighter Group were stationed at Archerfield at the time.

Lt. Hervey B. Carpenter was later the commander of "A" Flight in the 35th Fighter Squadron, 8th Fighter Group. He also later went on to serve with the 348th Fighter Group. Lieutenant Colonel Hervey B. Carpenter eventually retired from the USAAF in 1957 and passed away on 17 July 2009 at Huntington Commons, Kennebunk.

Lieutenant Hervey B. Carpenter

Squadron Leader Charles Surtees Mason, MBE (03589, previously 4636) was tragically killed on 9 April 1955, in the crash of a Lincloln bomber of 10 Squadron RAAF into Mount Superbus in southern Queensland.