UPL 65231

IMAGE

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July 4, 1943, Mission No. 71 to LeMans, France, wreckage of B-17F 42-29960 "NYMOKYMI" 544th Bomb Squad, 384th Bomb Group, code SU-J. The B-17 was hit by flak over Le Mans after releasing its bombs. The plane turned North, and was hit again in the #4 engine, and the prop would not feather. The oxygen system was punctured, and Erickson gave the signal to bail out. The plane was ultimately brought down by an Me109. Roger Cornevin-Haydon, a French citizen, was in a stadium watching the airstrike, and saw the B-17 smoking, at low altitude, and witnessed the crew bail out near a small town. The French citizens arrived before the Germans, and aided the crew.

Connections

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Units

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-797007
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-60135
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Pieces of metal wreckage strewn across a field
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Headshot of man in WWII era Air Force uniform
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-796529
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nymokymi
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 545th Bomb Squadron

Locations

Mission

Revisions

Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
ChangesChanges to Related Units, Caption and Related People
Date:
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Sources

Photos of the crash site taken July 5, 1943, by Roger Cornevin-Hayton.  https://photos.384thbombgroup.com/picture.php?/88783/category/Erickson_G