It was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft to fly during the war. This remarkable discovery has shed new light on the role of these mega planes during World War II and has provided valuable insights into the technological capabilities of the German military at that time. Associated Press, "Nine Killed In Plane". Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. Development [ edit] View into the cockpit of the Me 323 One was The plane was capable of carrying up to 23 tonnes of cargo, making it an essential component of the German militarys logistics operations. load. IBT Fast Start - Let the best of International News come to you. In conditions of air superiority [19], Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board arrived on the scene the following day. It was the largest land-based transport aircraft of the entire war. It shows Anna Kreisling, The White Wolf of the Luftwaffe standing in front of this massive six engined aircraft. Associated Press, "19 Die, 4 Hurt In Navy Plane Crash in Arizona". "Eighteen dead as D-M planes collide in air". Upwards of 33,000 were produced from 1936 until its use came to an end at the . Two gunners could also be carried. The second prototype - the Me 323 V2 - was given six such Gnome-Rhone engines. The RATO's were mounted beneath the wings outboard of the engines, with the wings having underside fittings to take up to a total of four RATO units. DO YOU KNOW THAT BIGGER ME 323 , CALLED ZEPPELIN ZSO 523 WERE UNDER CONSTRUCTION WHEN WAR END. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Ethell, Jeffrey L., "Rocket Fighter:Part I". The pilot was perched high on the fuselage in a single-seat cockpit, adjacent to the wing's leading edge. Associated Press, "Lockheed's Chief Test Pilot Killed in Crash", Stamford, Lincs., UK: AIR International, Dorr, Robert F., ". The aircraft is powered by three Gnome-Rhone 14N-48 and three 14N-49 engines. Messerschmitt Me-323 - transport However, without a thorough investigation of the wreckage, it is difficult to determine the exact cause of the crash. The engineers were intended to monitor engine synchronisation and allow the pilot to fly without worrying about engine status, although the pilot could override the engineers' decisions on engine and propeller control. United Press, "Six Fliers Killed In Training Flight". powered version of the Me 321 glider. forward airstrips was a During World War II, Germany was known for its advanced technology, including the development of some of the largest and most powerful aircraft ever seen. This film takes us on a thrilling search for traces of the wreck and its victims. It's like Netflix for history Sign up to History Hit, the world's best history documentary service and get 50% off using the code 'TIMELINE' http://bit.ly/3a7ambuYou can find more from us on:https://www.facebook.com/timelineWHhttps://www.instagram.com/timelineWHThis channel is part of the History Hit Network. The vessel is believed to be the last surviving Messerschmitt-323 Gigant craft, the largest land-based transport aircraft from the war. Diehl, Alan E., PhD, "Silent Knights: Blowing the Whistle on Military Accidents and Their Cover-ups", Brassey's, Inc., Dulles, Virginia, 2002. [13] This set nearby vehicles and buildings on fire and instantly killed five motorists, including the driver of the truck. Flying Whale - The Messerschmitt 323 Gigant in 26 Photos Staff, "Lieutenant Killed When P-38 Crashes Near School at Guasti". Messerschmitt Me 323 - The Largest Land Based Transport - YouTube For defensive armament, it was armed with five 13mm (.51in) MG 131 machine guns firing from a dorsal position behind the wings and from the fuselage. Associated Press, "Du Pont Killed In Glider Crash: Arnold's Assistant Dies at March Field". Freeman, Roger A., "The Mighty Eighth", Doubleday and Company, Inc., Garden City, New York, 1970, Library of Congress catalog card number 72-76476, p. 82. Health COVID-19. [9], Data from Britannica Book Of The Year 1944;[10] German Aircraft of the Second World War[7]. Nonetheless, the Me 323 remained significantly underpowered. Africa and Russia. The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport aircraft of World War II. Contents Development However, it is also possible that the plane may have been targeted by Allied forces had it continued to be used, which could have ultimately led to its destruction. Thompson, Scott, "Douglas A-26 and B-26 Invader", The Crowood Press Ltd., Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK, 2002. Messerschmitt Me 323 | Military Wiki | Fandom Associated Press, "Identifies Pilot Killed In R. I. The interchange where the accident occurred was considered unsafe and poorly designed, and had been the site of several previous accidents. You build your ships piece by piece and the only know limit for the size of your ship is what you computer can handle. List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft (1943-1944) Keith, "Wackett's Wonder". Enemy fire killed eight of our wounded soldiers, but Anna flew the ME-323 to safety!! It has also helped to shed light on the role of these mega planes in the war effort, which has long been overlooked by historians. [11] Other parts of the truck, including tires and an axle, were hurled from the crash site into nearby homes. On January 20, 1942, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. While the Messerschmitt 323 Gigant may not have played a major role in the outcome of the war, its discovery has helped to preserve an important piece of aviation history and has allowed us to better understand the technological capabilities of the German military at that time. Associated Press, "Navy Officer Dies In Jump From Plane". The Messerschmitt Bf 109 plane model that was discovered was one of the most commonly used German fighter planes. The 14N-48 produces a 1,164 hp of thrust for take-off RH rotation fitted to starboard and the 14N-49 produces a 1,164 hp of thrust for take-off LH rotation fitted to port. Messerschmitt Me 321 | Military Wiki | Fandom On 22 April 1943, a formation of 27 fully loaded Me 323s was being escorted across the Sicilian Straits by Bf 109s of JG 27 when it was intercepted by seven squadrons of Spitfires and P-40s. [4] These lawsuits culminated in the 1971 U.S. Supreme Court case Citizens to Preserve Overton Park v. Volpe,[5] and in 1981, the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) abandoned plans to route I-40 east of this interchange. [11] Ten other cars, seven houses, and one industrial building were damaged by the explosion and subsequent fires. Associated Press, "Eighteen Die As Bomber Crashes 12 More Injured in Explosion of Plane". In 2012, Italian divers discovered the wreck of the biggest aircraft in WWII, Messerschmitt "Gigant", off the coast of Sardinia. found: Wikipedia, Dec. 20, 2011 (the Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport aircraft of World War II; it was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft of the war) Change Notes. Category:Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant - Wikimedia Commons It's hanging from my ceiling with my 1 /32 Revell Junkers JU-88!! Messerschmitt Me 262 - Wikipedia or any known 323 still intact? In 2012, Italian divers discovered the wreck of the biggest aircraft in WWII, Messerschmitt \"Gigant\", off the coast of Sardinia. Associated Press, "Women Marines, 11 Fliers Downed On Desert Island". supplies of rocket fuel at Campbell, Douglas E., "BuNos! Twenty one of the Me 323s were lost while [4] three of the P-40s were shot down by the escorts.[5]. as the capacious fuselage and Pigeon Cote, "The Noon Balloon", Official Publication of the Naval Airship Association, Inc., Fall 2010, Issue 87, p. 8. 1999. The Messerschmitt Me 323 was manufactured by the German company Messerschmitt as a heavy military transport aircraft during the Second World War. 1950)", "November 1944 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports", "7 Expeditionary Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACC)", "1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-001 to 44-30910)", "Flying Drama in the Pyrenees December 5th, 1944", "Photo: Moteur de l'avion anglais tomb au Pic de la Camisette en dcembre 1944", "December 1944 USAAF Stateside Accident Reports", "43-22424 Invader Historical Foundation", "warbirdregistry.org A Warbirds Resource Group Site Grumman Wildcat", "Grumman Wildcat Mk V, JV482, Restoration Ulster Aviation Society", "US Navy Recovers Historic World War II Aircraft", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(19431944)&oldid=1146684366, Lists of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft, Pages containing London Gazette template with parameter supp set to y, Articles with dead external links from November 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles needing additional references from July 2013, All articles needing additional references, Articles with unsourced statements from September 2015, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 26 March 2023, at 10:52. The Memphis tanker truck disaster was a transportation disaster that occurred on December 23, 1988, when a tractor-trailer tanker truck hauling liquefied propane crashed on an exit ramp at the Interstate 40/Interstate 240 (I-40/I-240) interchange in downtown Memphis, Tennessee.The crash ruptured the tank, causing the leaking gas to ignite, which produced a large explosion that set multiple . As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. with 11 cannon and four The Memphis tanker truck disaster was a transportation disaster that occurred on December 23, 1988, when a The Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a German military transport aircraft of World War II. The German military transport aircraft of World War II, Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant ("Giant") was a powered variant of the Me 321 military glider and was the largest land-based transport aircraft of the war. WOW, FANTASTIC COVER ART!!! Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant unloads a 'Renault UE Chenillette'. The Messerschmitt 323 Gigant was designed to transport heavy equipment and troops to the front lines, and its enormous size made it a valuable asset for the German military. In retrospect the Me 163 need not have suffered from its most serious faults, and the 263 emerged on the Lippisch/Messerschmitt drawing boards in winter 1943-44 to rectify them. Me 321 (some 200 built) were towed usually by a trio of Bf 110C or by the unusual five . n The Messerschmitt Me 323 was developed out of a German requirement in 1940 to build a large assault glider to be used for the Operation Sea Lion. Associated Press, "Chutist Pleads Guilty In Theft Of Army Plane". Entertainment Film reviews Movies Music Television Fashion. Staff, "Three Die as 2 Planes Cut Swath in Riverside: Army Craft Collide, Killing Pilots and Civilian; Many Buildings Damaged". Brown, J., "RCT Armament in the Boeing B-29". patched up, leading to the Despite this, the limited numbers of Me 323s in service were an invaluable asset to the Germans, and saw intensive use. Angell, Joseph W., "History of the Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command Part One:Historical Outline 19331944", The Historical Branch, Army Air Forces Proving Ground Command, Eglin AFB, Florida, reprint by Office of History, Munitions Systems Division, Eglin AFB, Florida, circa 1990, p. 111. very advanced, with ideas such Harrison, William A., "Fairey Firefly Variants". The Me 323 primarily served the Deutsches Afrika Korps and the German Eastern Front, until each and every last one of them fell to enemy fire. Associated Press, "Army Bomber Crashes on Utah Desert, Wrecking Freight Train". The Me 323 V1 was the first prototype fitted with four Gnome-Rhone engines. Uncovering the Mystery of Hitler's Mega Plane: The Tragic Crash of Morison, Samuel Eliot, "History of United States Naval Operations in World War II, Volume X: The Atlantic Battle Won, May 1943-May 1945", Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1990, Library of Congress card number 47-1571, p. 295. Plane Crash". It was produced from 1942 to 1944 with a total number of 213 aircraft built. Sparkford, Yoevil, Somerset, UK: Haynes Publishing, 2010. [12], Authorities identified the deceased motorists as Randall Benson (29, driver of the tanker truck) of West Memphis, Arkansas, Harrison G. Lee (34) of Brighton, Tennessee, Robert Wardlow (40) of Memphis, Tina Wiles (30) and Warner Wiles (70), both of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and David Bailey (29, driver of second truck) of West Helena, Arkansas. The engine also drives three-bladed Chauviere variable-pitch propellers on LH and RH rotation. The following 52 files are in this category, out of 52 total. Memphis tanker truck disaster - Wikipedia Some Me 321s were converted to Me 323s, but the majority were built as six-engine aircraft from the beginning; early models were fitted with wooden two-blade propellers, which were later replaced by metal, three-blade variable-pitch versions. [160], In the airspace around Washington, DC the three aircraft entered a large storm front and lost visual contact with one another. wE IN THE IRANIAN AIR FORCE LIKE BIG AIRPLANES LIKE THIS ME-323 GIGANT. The aircraft was majorly used by the Luftwaffe and was a powered version of the cargo glider Me 321 Gigant. "Boeing B-29First of the Superbombers". Messerschmitt Me 321 - transport glider - aviastar.org Early in 1941, as a result of feedback from Transport Command pilots in Russia, the decision was taken to produce a motorized variant of the Me 321, to be designated Me 323. The discovery of the Messerschmitt 323 Gigant has provided valuable insights into the technology of the German military during World War II. [21] The unused ramps and bridges were demolished, and the interchange was converted into a directional T interchange. Gero, David B. Associated Press, "Four Fliers Killed In Las Vegas Crash". Valant, Gary M., "Vintage Aircraft Nose Art". The cargo hold was 11m (36ft) long, 3m (10ft) wide and 3.4m (11ft) high. [3][4] I-40 traffic continuing both through the interchange and exiting onto I-240 was required to use one-lane ramps, some of which contained hazardously sharp curves. If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can. Associated Press, "Bomber's Crash Landing Derails Train In Utah". I did not know that. [8] At the time of the accident, the entire interchange was considered one of the most dangerous in the state and had a crash rate much higher than the state average. Messerschmitt 323 (Transport plane) - LC Linked Data Service Young, David M., "Chicago Aviation: An Illustrated History", Northern Illinois University Press, Dekalb, Illinois. Staff, "Pilot, 23, Killed In Desert Crash". Manchester, William, and Reid, Paul, "The Last Lion: Winston Spencer Churchill Defender of the Realm 19401965", Little, Brown and Company, New York, Boston, London; First edition November 2012, Library of Congress card number 82-42972. They were headed for tunisia, fully loaded with supplies/equipment. The two survivors left were Corporal Joseph W. Enloe and Private Charles H. Davis, who were found wandering around the site of the crash a half hour afterwards. On the other hand Messerschmitt's Me 321 was a most successful design of braced high-wing configuration and with construction of welded steel tube, wood and fabric. The Messerschmitt Me 323 flew too close to the ground, crashed and burst into flames. The Giant of WWII- Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant was the largest land Check it out here for yourself and try not to crash it like I did.Messerschmitt 323 \"Gigant\" https://steamcommunity.com/workshop/filedetails/?id=1353286534Babirusa Truck Used https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=659355132[ Social Links ]Steam Group - http://steamcommunity.com/groups/LSGYoutubeTwitter - https://twitter.com/LastStandGamersFacebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/LastStandGamers/Twitch - https://www.twitch.tv/laststandgamers Airsoft Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lsgairsoftSpace Engineer is like a mixture between Minecraft and Kerbal Space Program.The main purpose of the game seems to be building a space fleet and fight/ally with the other factions. G.W.H. 1/144 scale Messerschmitt Me-323 D-1 Gigant Review - HyperScale A total of 213 are recorded as having been made, a few being converted from the Me 321. "It was a pure emotional charge to suddenly see the aircraft in the veiled blue of the sea," Cristina Freghieri, an Italian diver who led the crew that found the wreckage 200 feet below the surface of the sea, told the ANSA news agency. Associated Press, "Walla Walla Bomber Crash Takes 12 Lives". A total of 213 are recorded as having been made; 15 being converted from the Me 321. . The Me 323 was the result of a 1940 German requirement for a large assault glider in preparation for Operation Sea Lion, the projected invasion of Great Britain. Massive Transport Aircraft Messerschmitt 323 - Space Engineers It's hanging from my ceiling with my 1 /32 Revell Junkers JU-88! Sources: http://www.gotech.at/fremde_lfz/messerschmitt_me323.htm http://ww2today.com/22nd-april-1943-german-me-323-transport-planes-destroyed-over-mediterranean Revision history: By September 1942, Me 323s were being delivered for use in the Tunisian campaign, and entered service in the Mediterranean theater in November 1942. Associated Press, "Crash In Memphis Of Army Bomber Causes 7 Deaths," Santa Cruz Sentinel-News, Santa Cruz, California, 30 April 1944, Volume 89, Evening Edition Number 103, Morning Edition Number 104, p. 1. Morison, Samuel Eliot, "History of United States Naval Operations in World War II Volume XIII: The Liberation of the Philippines Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas 1944-1945", Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1959, 1989, Library of Congress card number 47-1571, pages 59-79. [159] At the time, Maxton was the site of the largest CG-4A glider pilot training base in the world. The plane was capable of carrying up to 20 tons of cargo, and its range allowed it to reach the farthest corners of the European theater of war. constant problem. As per the Me 321, the Me 323 had massive, semi-cantilever, high-mounted wings which were braced from the fuselage out to the middle of the wing. Box contents. The Me 323D-6 version can accommodate five crew members and 130 troops or 10,000 to 12,000 kg of payload. Not all of the aircraft were in operation at the time. : Bell Aircraft Corporation 19341946", Schiffer Publishing Limited, Atglen, Pennsylvania, 1996. "Until now, no Me-323 had survived from the war, which makes this discovery of great historical importance, she added. Associated Press, "7 Die In Georgia Crash Of Army Bombing Plane". Disposition of World War II USN, USMC and USCG Aircraft Listed by Bureau Number", Syneca Research Group, Inc., 2012. Copyright 2023 IBTimes LLC. [8], The vehicle involved in the accident was a 1986 Mack Econodyne tractor towing a 10,450-US-gallon (39,600L) steel tank, which was manufactured in 1964 and loaded with 9,511 US gallons (36,000L) of pressurized liquified propane. There were several production versions, beginning with the D-1. It has a fuel tank capacity of 2,837 US gal. Walhalla, South Carolina, "Wreckage Of Bomber Is Cleared Away". Campbell, Douglas E., "BuNos! Me 323 was the biggest land-based transport aircraft during World War II. This was clearly not much better than the Me 321, so the V2 prototype became the first to have six engines and flew for the first time in early 1942, becoming the prototype for the D series aircraft. Associated Press, "General And 5 Killed In Plane Crash In Storm". Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant (Giant) - Military Factory Associated Press, "Eight Of Nine-Man Crew Die In Crash", Aircraft information XB-29-BO, serial number. Morison, Samuel Eliot, "History of United States Naval Operations in World War II Volume XIII: The Liberation of the Philippines Luzon, Mindanao, the Visayas 1944-1945", Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1959, 1989, Library of Congress card number 47-1571, pages 70-71. [159] I went to Trumpeter website and I did see it? The Messerschmitt 323 Gigant was designed to be an aerial behemoth, with a wingspan of over 55 meters and a length of more than 28 meters. O'Connell, Dan, "Messerschmitt Me 262 The Production Log 19411945", Classic Publication, an imprint of Ian Allan Publishing Ltd., Hersham, Surrey, UK, 2005. [1] The proposed Messerschmitt aircraft was originally designated Me 261w, then changed to Me 263 and eventually became the Me 321. Her gorgeous breasts are straining against her black leather flying jacket!! None of Hitler's mega planes survived the war, and no other wreck. as heavy as a Panzer IV Special, "Life for Flyer in Beheading of Auto Driver". It was born out of the need for a large assault glider and was developed from Messerschmitt's own 321 heavy gliders. On December 23, 1988, at approximately 10:15a.m. Central Time, the semi-trailer truck skidded off of a ramp carrying traffic on I-40 eastbound at the Midtown interchange in Memphis, rolled about 1 1/4 times, and crashed into a retaining wall at the base of an overpass. However, they were also vulnerable to attack, and many were shot down by enemy fighters. Report of Aircraft Accident, U.S. Army Air Forces, War Department, 13 September 1944, pages 1, 2. Francillon, Ren J., "McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Since 1920, Volume II", Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, 1979, 1990. Your email address will not be published. [9] TDOT had begun preliminary work in early 1988 for a project to reconstruct the interchange, estimated to cost $100 million at the time (equivalent to $201million in 2021[10]). Initial tests were conducted using four Gnome engines attached to a strengthened Me 321 wing, which gave a modest speed of 210km/h (130mph) - 80km/h (50mph) slower than the Ju52 transport aircraft. [1] The interchange was first constructed in the latter 1960s, and opened to traffic on July 14, 1971. It took me 3 days to build and paint this model, and it is huge!! The accident resulted in nine deaths and ten injuries. Shortly afterwards they were withdrawn from the North African theatre and redeployed on the Eastern front where the Germans enjoyed some degree of air superiority. Military Wiki is a FANDOM Lifestyle Community. Johnsen, Frederick A., "Dominator: Last and Unluckiest of the Hemisphere Bombers", Boyne, Walt, "C-46 [sic]: 'The Basketcase Bummer'". All rights reserved. [11], Between June 2003 and December 2006, TDOT spent $53 million to completely reconstruct the interchange where the accident occurred. Unique Me 323 "Gigant" wreck found off Sardinian coast Brabham, Lewis F. "Army Bomber, Missing Two Weeks, Found In Mountains North Of Walhalla; Five Killed". Associated Press, "Army Plane, 13 Aboard, Crashes Near Mt. Narrative: G-USTV, better known by its wartime marking 'Black 6', was performing a solo display at Duxford Airfield. McGann, Francis L., Commander (CHC) U.S.N.R., Chaplain, U.S.S. Associated Press, "Training Plane Kills 3". It was . WE KNOW IT WAS FLOWN INTO STALINGRAD BY HOT HOT BLONDE BOMBSHELL, ANNA KREISLING, THE HOT HOT GORGEOUS GIRL WITH THE 38D BEAUTIFUL BREASTS!! [7] The ramp where the accident occurred was a flyover ramp with an advisory speed limit of 25 miles per hour (40km/h). They determined that the truck had passed an inspection in Arkansas the day before the accident, and that the driver was familiar with the route. Italaerei. The Me 321 VI prototype flew first in March 1941 and Me 321A-1 production aircraft entered service in May of that year. http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/relics/Relics%20Messerschmitt.htm, "Massive Luftwaffe plane wreck 'found off Sardinian coast'", http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/9541566/Massive-Luftwaffe-plane-wreck-found-off-Sardinian-coast.html, U.S. intelligence report on the German Me-323 "Gigant" transport aircraft appeared in, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, World War II transport aircraft of Germany, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He was following a holding circuit when the aircraft hit trees on Locust Mountain, located approximately an eighth of a mile west of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania at 2110 EST, and broke up. Me 323 Gigant - Super-heavy transport aircraft - Luftwaffe - AirPages Messerschmitt Me 262 V2, WrkNr. [162], The aircraft, a Douglas C-47A with the tail number 42-32929 was first flown in 1943. Copp, DeWitt S., "Forged In Fire", The Air Force Historical Foundation, Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, 1982. The cause of the crash was never fully determined, although it is believed to be a case of CFIT (controlled flight into terrain). [20] The driver, an employee of Wooten Transports, had picked up the load in nearby West Memphis, Arkansas, and was en route to Ellendale, about 20 miles (32km) northeast of Memphis. Before the project could begin, TDOT had to acquire additional right-of-way, which was opposed by some residents of the area.