William D Collins

Military
media-26165.jpeg UPL 26165 Martin Marauder B-26 42-96144 'Bank Nite Betty' and crew. Pilot 1st Lt Charles W Este is at far left.

Object Number - UPL 26165 - Martin Marauder B-26 42-96144 'Bank Nite Betty' and crew. Pilot 1st Lt Charles W Este is at far left.

Assigned to 596BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to the railroad bridge at Eller, Germany on the Mosel River. Hit by direct flak hit, A/C came apart at the turret and crashed NE of St Vith. No chutes observed. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 11483.



Awards: PH.

Connections

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Units served with

A B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-96191) nicknamed "The Milk Run Special" of the 397th Bomb Group at Steeple Morden, 1945. Image by Alexander "Cal" Sloan. Written on slide casing: '296191, 397 BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 596th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17030006 / O-731561
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Bank Nite Betty
  • Unit: 397th Bomb Group 596th Bomb Squadron

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 23 December 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

St Vith, Belgium 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to the railroad bridge at Eller, Germany on the Mosel River. Hit by direct flak hit, A/C came apart at the turret and crashed NE of St Vith. No chutes observed. KIA. MACR 11483.

Buried

St. Louis, MO, USA 6 September 1950 Interred Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery St Louis Missouri
Iowa, USA

Based

Rivenhall 23 December 1944 Assigned to 596BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF.

Born

Des Moines, IA, USA

William D Collins: Gallery (1 items)