41-23786
B-24D 41-23786 was assigned to 44th Bomb Group, 68th Bomb Squadron at Shipdham. Shot down by German fighters 6-December-1942 on a mission to bomb the German airfield Drucat at Abbeville, France. 10KIA. First loss for 44th Bomb Group. MACR 2920.
P 1Lt. James D. Du Bard, Jr. (KIA); CP 2Lt Henry B. Kaitala (KIA);
N 2Lt Richard V. Somerville (KIA); B 2Lt George A. Crawford (KIA);
E/TT G Sgt Charles S. Dick (KIA); RO Sgt William C. Mears (KIA);
BTG Sgt Robert F. Lilley (KIA); WG SSgt Paul E. Beverly (KIA)
WG Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo (KIA); TG Sgt Donald M. Smith (KIA)
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: 18045226
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727320
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31033519
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-410225
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727999
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Missions
- Date: 6 December 1942
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
English Channel | 6 December 1942 | Attacked by German fighters and crashed into the English Channel mid-way between Boulogne and Beachy Head. |
Revisions
Lee Cunningham 3-Dec-2014. Minor edit to description; added detail to FTR event per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.
Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Missing AIr Crew Report (MACR) 2620; "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.
MACR 2920 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database