P-39D Bell Airacobra, 41-6764
The Incident:
On October 6, 1942, an airplane was seen flying over Kirkjubæjarklaustur, it was snowing. Locals believed that the pilot was lost. This later proved to be a P-39 Airacobra from the 33. FS at Reykjavík field. Lt. J. E. Hoffman had taken off from Höfn at 12:55 to Reykjavík. He should have been over Reykjavík at 15:10. But when he did not arrive at this time. An extensive search was organized but proved unsuccessful.
Two years later on June 2, 1944, sheep farmers who were running sheep in the eastern part of Síðumannaafrétti had found a crashed airplane north of Kálfafell not far from Miklafell. The pilot's body was in the aircraft. This was 21 km north of Kirkjubæjarklaustur and 14 km from Vatnajökull. A group of twenty soldiers came to Kirkjubæjarklaustur and went, guided by local farmers to the crash site. They buried the wreck and broke the engine, which looked to be ok. They brought the pilots remains back, but encountered heavy fog on the way and let the farmers lead the way.
The Crew:
The pilot, Hoffman J. E. Lt. was killed in the crash.
The Aircraft:
Bell P39D Airacobra
S/N: 41-6764
USAAF
Squadron/Group: 342nd. Composite Group.
Airacobra aircraft were used in Iceland from February 1942 until March 1944.
Details on aircraft: Wikipedia, Youtube
