Phillip H Tritschler

Military

On 3 January 1943 in B-24D 41-23371 while serving as Ball Turret Gunner that aircraft made a crash-landing near the crossroads south of Puncheston, Pembrokeshire returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. Copilot Canfield was killed and the only fatality.



On 17-May-43 in B-24D 42-40130 'Avenger II' while serving as Waist Gunner the aircraft developed engine trouble en-route to the target as Bordeaux, France. The pilot made the decision to land the aircraft at Lugo-de-Llanera airfield at Asturias, Spain. The entire crew was interned but take to Gibraltar and returned to England on 8-Aug-43.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'

66th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-23771

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron

42-40130

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

3 January 1943 Aboard B-24D 41-23771 the aircraft made a crash-landing, out of fuel, upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was not injured and Returned to Duty.

Other

Interned (INT)

17 May 1943 - 8 August 1943 Aboard B-24D 42-40130 the aircraft developed engine trouble and the pilot landed in Spain. All interned, but all returned to England 8-Aug-43

Born

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2015. All events, additions and corrections made per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; made connections to Place, 2 Aircraft and 2 Missions within existing website data.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 61, MACR 3301, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy p. 38, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams p.27