media-400765.jpg FRE 2846 A crashed P-47 Thunderbolt (LH-X, serial number 42-25506) of the 350th Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '225506, LH-X.'

This crash took place at Copdock, Suffolk April 29, 1944. 1st Lt. Carl W. Mueller was flying element lead in Col. Duncan’s brand new LH-X (VI) 'Dove of Peace' (a/c 42-25506) loaded with two 100 lb bombs and a full external belly tank, when the aircraft suffered a sudden loss of power. Mueller recounted :

Not long after take off and at an altitude of approximately 1000 ft the engine missed several times at intervals of about 30 seconds. Previous to this I had switched to belly tank, not noticing that the fuel pressure remained constant and had been running on the same for at least a full minute.
At the time the engine began missing I realized that I was losing power, so I slid out of formation and went into a slight decline. At this moment the tach went down to zero in an even manner, rose to around two hundred rpm and dropped off again.
I then pushed the prop pitch full forward, also the throttle full forward diving a manifold pressure of 40 inches and although the fuel pressure was 20 pounds, changed to main gas tank.
The airspeed was now down to 150 mph, and the ship was steadily losing altitude which was but a few hundred feet. Whereas I called that I was returning upon leaving the formation. I now realized that I must make a forced landing, jettisoned bombs and belly tank and went directly in.
The loss of power was not sudden but rather gradually diminishing and smooth. Magneto check showed about a loss of 100 rpm on each and on each trials the amount of return was inconsistent above and below the 3000 rpm’s at which the check was commenced.

Mueller jettisoned his bombs, causing only minor damage to a garage roof. He then belly landed the aircraft at Red House Farm, Copdock, close by to Raydon. Roger Freeman Collection

USAAF Crash Report
Graham Cross, Jonah's Feet Are Dry (Ipswich, 2001), p.473.