42-67077 Mountain Ayers

Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Lt Jerry H Ayers. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort mission to Bremen, on return journey whilst letting down through overcast, seen to spin off of formation into a dive and continue straight into the ground, near Wakerly, Northamptonshire, where it exploded. Pilot William K Birch Killed in Action (KIA).



A/C pictures:

http://www.ww2color.com/search/webapps/slides/slides.php?action=update&…



http://www.ww2color.com/search/webapps/slides/slides.php?action=update&…



http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/images/Plane%20Photos/38th%20FS/38th%2…

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14063544 / O-659441
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18097385 / O-740136
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Places

Lieutenant-Colonel Elwyn G. Righetti of the 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group stands beside his P-51 Mustang, "Katydid". Print signed 'Best of everything your big loud Elwyn', 1944-1945.
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

E/A Destroyed

Arras, France 25 November 1943 Me109 destroyed near Arras. 25-Nov-43. Pilot William K Birch.

Other

E/A Destroyed

Germany 29 November 1943 E/A destroyed 29-Nov-43. Mission flown from Nuthampstead.

Crashed

Wakerley, Oakham LE15, UK 16 December 1943 Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort mission to Bremen, on return journey whilst letting down through overcast, seen to spin off of formation into a dive and continue straight into the ground, near Wakerly, Northamptonshire, where the aircraft P-38H 42-67077 'Mountain Ayers' exploded. Pilot William K Birch Killed in Action (KIA).

Manufactured

Burbank, CA, USA Built at Lockheed.

Delivered

California, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Wormingford, Colchester CO6, UK Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF.