41-28690 Missouri Sue

Assigned to 482nd BG, 389th BG, 66BS, 44th BG, 8AF USAAF. Lead ship on 5-Jun-44 mission to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, despite orders to the contrary, led formation back over the target after the bomb release failed during the critical point of the initial pass. Hit by multiple flak hits, leaving the pilot Capt Louis A Mazure dead and other crew members injured, with hung up bombs and leaking fuel the engines were shut down and a glide to blighty established. The co pilot assisted by a severely wounded Colonel Leon R Vance managed to get the aircraft over the coast of England so the crew could bale out. Colonel Vance remained aboard alone, mistakenly believing a fatally wounded crew member was still on board and ditched off Broadstairs, Kent. The A/C then exploded, ejecting Colonel Vance, who managed to swim ashore. 1 x KIA, 3 x WIA, 3 x RTD injured, 7 x RTD.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Lieutenant John C "Red" Morgan of the 482nd Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Lt Red Morgan, Cong, Med of Hon.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator, Radar, Radar Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron 754th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 0692777
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Missions

  • Date: 5 June 1944
  • Official Description:

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

English Channel off Broadstairs, UK 5 June 1944 It ditched off Broadstairs, Kent, after leading 489BG on 5-Jun-44.

Manufactured

Tulsa, OK, USA Built at Douglas for Consolidated.

Delivered

Oklahoma, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Other

Transferred

Shipdham, UK Transferred to 66BS, 44th BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com/missouribelle.htm
Mission to Berlin: The American Airmen Who Struck the Heart of Hitler's Reich by Robert F Dorr.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Mazure&GSfn=Louis…;

Date
Contributorgrahamkipping
Changes
Sources

pilots log