Recovered Parts from a Crashed WW2 USAAF Mosquito Mk XVI NS638 including the USA Flare Gun - Pistol Pyrotechnic M2

Here on offer is a rare opportunity to obtain some genuine recovered artifacts from a crashed WW2 USAAF de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI, registration number NS638.

All the recovered items are in what I would call “relic” condition, from where they have been buried in the ground for some period of time.

This de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito PR Mk XVI, registration number NS638, was part of the US Army Air Forces (USAAF) VIII 325 Photo Wing, 25th Bombardment Group (Reconnaissance), 654th Bomb Squadron.

It crashed whilst on a test flight on 23rd December 1944 in woods at Breakheart Hill, near Dursley in Gloucestershire, sadly killing both crew members, who were:

USAAF F/O (T.223175) James Dreyfus SPEAR (pilot).

USAAF 2/Lt. (O.772138) Carroll B. BRYAN (nav.).


My understanding is the USAAF undertook a recovery of the crashed aircraft as the report certificate states, “This Aircraft is classed as salvageable”.

However, these parts must have remained buried in the ground, for some time. owing to the corrosion on them? I have no idea when they were recovered?

They also come with photocopies of the CONFIDENTIAL/RESTRICTED USAAF Accident Report of the crash, that includes some photo images of the crash site. The report also states on one page that the crash date was the 22nd December 1944 and on another it was the 23rd December 1944? However, as the actual CERTIFICATE states the 23rd, that is the date that I believe is correct.

I have also managed to find a fascinating 291 page hardback book, with many period photographs, titled:

THE MOSQUITO IN THE USAAF

By Tony Fairbairn

On page 87 of the book, it contains an eye witness account of the crash, as it occurred back on 23rd December 1944. (shown below)

25TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP
While there were no operational losses during the month, unfortunately the same could not be said for non-combat flying. At approximate 1140 hrs on 23 December, F/O James Spear and his navigator Lt Carr Bryan took off in NS638 for a local test flight. About an hour later witnesses reported hearing the Mosquito's engines misfiring and aircraft crashed in a wooded area at Breakheart Hill, some 2 miles south west of Dursley in Gloucestershire. There was no radio contact take-off and the cause of the crash remained a mystery.

A local Gordon Thompson, actually witnessed the crash and in 1979 recalled what happened:

In the extremely cold winter of 1944/45, during the very ear’ days of December at about 1100 hours, a Mosquito was travelling at about 400mph across a fog-filled valley above the town Dursley, Gloucestershire, when it flew into a wooded hillside about 500-600ft above sea level. At the time, I was 17 years and taking a stroll in adjacent woods prior to going to bed as I on night shift in a local factory. I heard the aircraft approach in thick fog, then a tremendous crash as it ploughed into trees carved a path nearly 800 yards through the ice-covered foliage. On arrival at the scene, I noted that the remains of the aircraft were a Mosquito bearing USAAF insignia. Unfortunately, crew members perished in the crash.

A copy of this informative hardback book is also included with this lot and it measures 9.5” (24cm) by 6.5” (16.5cm).


The four recovered items that relate to Mosquito Mk XVI NS638 are as follows:


1) A WW2 USA military flare gun, being the type, Pistol Pyrotechnic M2.

The M2 pistol is double-action, single-loading, flare gun, that I believe was used for signalling from aircraft in flight to troops on the ground, or even to other aircraft.

This flare gun was made by the International Flare-Signal Co. of Ohio USA.

It has a heavy and very solid frame with a 2.25" barrel; all made entirely of brass. The brass is in excellent condition, now with a light patina.

The trigger, screws, grip safety and other small parts are made from steel, which are now corroded meaning the firing mechanism doesn’t work but the trigger and grip safety are still sound. Therefore, the flare gun is inoperable.

Instead of having a breech that opens, the flares are muzzle loaded, with the rim of the casing held in place by a brass latch on the left side of the pistol.
This method of loading is called the Driggs Faber System.

Unlike the larger versions, of flare guns these have a double action and even a grip safety. They were designed for "Driggs-Faber" type 2 inch long flares, about 37mm in diameter.


The pistol is marked on the left side of the barrel with the model information and serial number:

PISTOL, PYROTECHNIC-M2
No. 20584 INSP. F.A.M.
U.S. (Crossed Cannons) PROPERTY

The chequered Bakelite grip scales give the full manufacturer information:

INTERNATIONAL FLARE-SIGNAL CO.
TIPPECANOE CITY, OHIO

DRIGGS
FABER
SYSTEM (in the centre of spread wings)

MADE IN U.S.A.
PATENT NO. 1712382

There is one tiny section of Bakelite missing for one of the corner edges.

The flare gun measures about 8” (20.3cm) high (including lanyard tab) by about 5.5” (14cm) wide and weighs a heavy 1.5Kg.


2) An aluminium vacuum pump in relic condition, but you can make out some lettering, “VAC PUMP”. It also has a filter cover that reads: CLEAN FILTER EVERY 200 HOURS.

It measures 6” (15.3cm) by 4” (10.2cm) and weighs 2.3Kg.

3) A section of copper pipe in bent and twisted condition. It has a small brass plate with some numbers fixed to it that maybe the part number?

4) A section of aluminium pipe with a wire mesh covering, also now bent and twisted.

All the items together with the book and documents weigh a very heavy 5.6Kg.

Please see my pictures for the details of the condition, which complement this description.

Please see my TERMS OF BUSINESS regarding Deliver Charges and Insurance regarding additional insurance cover, should you require it, BEFORE the item is dispatched.

The responsibility lies with the customer to check with your Customs restrictions that this item can be imported into your country.

Thank you for taking the time to look.

Code: 52031