43-34565 | American Air Museum

43-34565 Gratis Gladys

media-30394.jpeg UPL 30394 Bomber “Marauder” B-26, serial number 43-34565, Gratis Gladys, 7I-B, 497 Squadron, 344th Bombardment Group, 9th U.S. Air Force is crashing to the ground after receiving a direct hit in the left engine during the bombing of a Erkelenz, Germany, 26 Feb 1945.

Library of Congress

Object Number - UPL 30394 - Bomber “Marauder” B-26, serial number 43-34565, Gratis Gladys, 7I-B, 497 Squadron, 344th Bombardment Group, 9th U.S. Air Force is crashing to the...

On 23 February 1945, B-26 43-34565 was shot down by anti-aircraft fire over Erkeland, Germany. All eight crew killed. MACR 12649.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

344th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Ninth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

497th Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Ninth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ballard James Bentley

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 6941901
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Role/Job: Flight Engineer, Top Turret Gunner

Kenneth Gordon Bowdish

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 39825387 / O-741451
Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
Role/Job: Navigator

Carl Franklin Chapman

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-659663
Highest Rank: Captain
Role/Job: Pilot

James Richard Harl

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: O-722452
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

John Price Herndon

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 18005969
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Role/Job: Radio Operator, Gunner

Places

Two airmen of the 344th Bomb Group sitting in a field of poppies near their base at Cormeille-en-Vexin, France.

Cormeilles-en-Vexin, France

Site type: Airfield

Events

Event	Location	Date	Description
Crashed	41812 Erkelenz, Germany	23 February 1945	The aircraft crashed to the ground after receiving a direct hit in the left engine during the bombing of a Erkelenz, Germany, 26 Feb 1945.
Other Failed to Return (FTR)	41812 Erkelenz, Germany	23 February 1945

Event

Location

Date

Description

Crashed

41812 Erkelenz, Germany

23 February 1945

The aircraft crashed to the ground after receiving a direct hit in the left engine during the bombing of a Erkelenz, Germany, 26 Feb 1945.

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

41812 Erkelenz, Germany

23 February 1945