Orna E Cottington

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-23023.jpeg UPL 23023

Object Number - UPL 23023

On 16 Feb 1943 in the B-24D, 41-23818, Texan II, SSgt. Orna Cottington, while serving as radio operator the aircraft, sustained a midair collision with the B-24D, 42-40354, Snafu, in the 44th Bomb Group, the 66th Bomb Squadron just after leaving the English coast off of Selsey Bill, Sussex, en route to the target at St. Nazaire, France. Both aircraft exploded and crashed into the English Channel and both crews were killed in action. 20 KIA. 16 Feb 43.



Air Medal, Purple Heart

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for take off at Shipdham in 1943. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23818) nicknamed "Bela" leads the lineup; one of her waist gunners is at his position. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 16 FEB 1943 General Section Press & Censorship Bureau' and 'Reviewed and Passed U.S. Army 16 Feb 1943 Press Officer No. 21 E.T.O.' Printed caption on reverse: '21-25. Liberator bombers taxi-ing up to take off for the start of an operational patrol at their
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Texan II - Bela - Miss Marcie Ann
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Reedsburgh, Wisconsin, USA

Other

Commemorated

Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Madingley Road, Coton, Cambridgeshire CB23 7PH, UK Commemorated on the Wall of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

English Channel 16 February 1943 Killed when aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with another B-24, exploded and crashed into the English Channel en-route to the target at St. Nazaire, France. His remains have never been recovered.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Removed punctuation marks from around aircraft names, for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 22-Feb-2015. Confirmed SN and added KIA event per MACR 4697; Added decorations and Commemorated event per American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) record; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position and loss details to Biography per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4697 & 3302 A / MACR 4697, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey pp. 61-62,79; 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy pp. 50, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams p 32. WW II Memorial web site / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Orna E Cottington: Gallery (1 items)