41-23806 - Bat Out Of Hell
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3 Jan 43 - Consolidated B-24D Liberator
Owner/Operator : 67th Bomb Squadron - 44th Bomb Group - 8th Air Force - USAAF
Registration: 41-23806 - Name : Bat Out Of Hell
MSN:
Fatalities: 3 - Occupants: 10
Other fatalities: 0
Aircraft damage: Written off. Damaged beyond repair. Recovered
Location: New House Farm, Dreenhill, Pembrokeshire - United Kingdom
Phase: En route
Nature: Military
Departure airport: RAF Shipdham - AAF Sta.115
Destination airport:
Narrative:
The B-23D aircraft, named, Bat Out Of Hell, crash landed at New House Farm, Dreenhill, U.K. due to fuel exhaustion. Three crew members died in the crash (KIA). The plane had been engaged in bombing the submarine pens in St. Nazaire, France. 3 Jan 43.
Crew:
1st Lt. R.B Erwin Jr. - KIA
2nd Lt. C.E Swanson - KIA
2nd Lt. T.G Deavanport - KIA
The surviving crew members:
2nd Lt. J.J Gavin - RTS
SSgt. H.V Simmons - RTS
SSgt. T.A Laskowski - RTS
Sgt. D.O. Perry - RTS
Sgt. L.O. McCarthy - RTS
Sgt. G.L. Kelse - RTS
Sgt. R.J. Reasoner - RTS
The B-24D, 41-23806, named, Bat Out Of Hell, was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, the 68th Bomb Squadron, in the 8th Air Force at Shipdham, UK. The aircraft was dispatched, 3 Jan 43, on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft returned to England but ran out of fuel and crashed southwest of Haverfordwest, UK. Command Pilot 1st Lt. Roy B. Erwin, Jr. died of injuries received in the crash (KIA). 5 Jan 43. Copilot 2nd Lt. Clark E. Swanson was also killed in the crash (KIA), and the Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas G. Davenport died of injuries received in the crash (KIA). 8 Jan 43. 3 KIA. 7RTD. No MACR issued. Aircraft was declared a Category E loss, damaged beyond repair (DBR) and salvaged.
Pilot 1st Lt. Roy B. Erwin, Jr. - KIA
Copilot 2nd Lt. Clark E. Swanson - KIA Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas G. Deavenport - KIA
Bombardier 2nd Lt. John J. Gavin - RTD
Engineer/Gunner SSgt. Hylan V. Simmons - RTD
Radio Operator SSgt. Thomas A. Laskowski - RTD
Gunner Sgt. Delbert O. Perry - RTD
Sgt. Lanville O. McCarty - RTD
Engineer/Gunner SSgt. George L. Kelsey - RTD
Top Turret Gunner Sgt. Robert J. Reasoner - RTD
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-443161
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-437436
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727332
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18053366
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 458th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 06853902
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
Missions
- Date: 3 January 1943
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR) |
Haverfordwest, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, UK | 3 January 1943 | Aircraft crashed south-west of Haverfordwest due to fuel shortage on return from bombing mission to St. Nazaire, France. Aircraft was too damaged to repair. |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 15-Jan-2015. New entry created and all information per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.