![J.R. Spence and his bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31741). Passed for publication 11 Nov 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[illegible], 322BG, J.H. Spence, 131741.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-413167.jpg?itok=RX0V0zeu)
9th Air Force
41-31741
B-26 Marauder
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![A crew of a B-26 Marauder of the 322nd Bomb Group in the cockpit of the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication [illegible] Nov 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of PN:N 131441. MIA 13/8/44.'](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/freeman/media-379979.jpg?itok=i7glkE2l)
A crew of a B-26 Marauder of the 322nd Bomb Group in the cockpit of the aircraft. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication [illegible] Nov 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of PN:N 131441. MIA 13/8/44.'
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![J.R. Spence and his bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31741). Passed for publication 11 Nov 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[illegible], 322BG, J.H. Spence, 131741.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].](http://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/freeman/media-413167.jpg?itok=jF4pAsqs)
J.R. Spence and his bomber crew of the 322nd Bomb Group with their B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31741). Passed for publication 11 Nov 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[illegible], 322BG, J.H. Spence, 131741.' On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO [Stamp].
Assigned to 322BG, 449BS, 9AF USAAF. Missions flown 96, 17 Jul 43 to 4 Jun 44; recoded PN-N, Missions flown 16; 17 Jun 44 to 12 Aug 44.
Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France hit by flak in bombay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Crew 1.Lt's. Francis L. Hunt; Lyle L Peters; Morris Rafalow; T/Sgt Raymond J Morin; S/Sgt's William F Stark; Norman E Thielan. (Thielan POW, rest of crew KIA). MARC 8039
Service
Units
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322nd Bomb Group
Group
The 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was activated on 19-Jun-1942 at MacDill Field, Florida with B-26B Marauder aircraft. In late September 1942 the unit moved to Drane Field, Florida. The Ground echelon sailed for the UK aboard the Queen Elizabeth... -
449th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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Francis Hunt
Military | First Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Assigned to 449BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Unable to bale out. Killed in Action (KIA)... -
Raymond Morin
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio operator | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Unable to bale out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8039. ... -
Lyle Peters
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Unable to bale out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8039. Awards: PH. -
Morris Rafalow
Military | First Lieutenant | Bomb/Navigator | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Unable to bale out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8039. Awards: PH. -
William Stark
Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer / Top turret | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Unable to bale out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 8039. ... -
Norman Thielan
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 449BS 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France in B-26 41-31741 A/C hit by flak in bomb bay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. Baled out sole survivor. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 8039. ...
Places
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Andrews Field
Military site : airfield
The base was known as Great Saling when construction – by US Army engineers – began in 1942 but was renamed Andrews Field in honour of the memory of Gen. Frank M. Andrews, who was killed when the B-24 he was travelling in crash-landed in Iceland on 3...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Manufactured | Offutt AFB, NE, USA | 1943 |
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Built at Martins. |
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| Delivered | Nebraska, USA | 1943 |
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Delivered to USAAF. |
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| Assigned | Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom | 1943 |
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Assigned to 322BG, 449BS, 9AF USAAF. |
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| Crashed | 61100 Flers, France | 12 August 1944 |
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Failed to Return (FTR) Flers, France hit by flak in bombay over target, ignited, exploded, crashed in two pieces. 1 x POW, 5 x KIA. MACR 8039. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2017 12:40:13 | Al_Skiff | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2015.htm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 16 May 2017 22:32:21 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2015.htm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 January 2015 05:06:27 | Tanks | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=21485625 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 January 2015 10:47:24 | Tanks | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:06 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 8039 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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