Ralph T Schweyer

Military

On January 3, 1943 in B-24D 41-23371 while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner the aircraft made a crash-landing near the crossroads south of Puncheston returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. Pilot Hilliard was injured and hospitalized until January 7. Copilot Canfield was killed and the only fatality.



On 17-May-43 in B-24D 42-40130 'Avenger II' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner the aircraft developed engine trouble while on a mission to 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 they were taken to Gibraltar and returned to England on 8-Aug-43.

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

Aircraft

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

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Returned to Duty (RTD)

3 January 1943 On 3-Jan-43 in B-24D 41-23771 the aircraft made a crash-landing at Puncheston, Pembrokeshire when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to St. Nazaire, France. He was uninjured and Returned to Duty (RTD).

Other

Interned

17 May 1943 - 8 August 1943 On 17-May-43 in B-24D 42-40130 "Avenger II" developed engine trouble on a mission to 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 they were taken to Gibraltar and returned to England on 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 1-Feb-2015. All information correlated from data contained in "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