Crashed while attempting to land at Warton upon returning from a combat mission in B-24H #41-28729 on 8 Mar 1944. RTD. Shot down 22 April 1944 in B-24 #4129273 'Flak Magnet. ' Killed in Action (KIA).
41-29273 'Flak Magnet' was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen, though bale out had not been called. A/C then was brought under control and regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control. Tailed and shot down by FW190 'Red 23' of Major Heinz Bär of II/JG1. Pilot Lt George Spaven Jr KIA in final attack by Heinz Bar, remaining crew baled out. A/C crashed Hoetmar.
Service
People
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Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 458th Bomb Group
Member of Crew 33. Assigned to 753BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. Six combat missions, before confiding in his crew mates that he was 16 years old, having enlisted at 14. Removed from combat.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 458th Bomb Group
Crashed while attempting to land at Warton upon returning from a combat mission in B-24H #41-28729 on 8 Mar 1944. RTD. Shot down 22 April 1944 in B-24 #4129273 'Flak Magnet. ' Prisoner of War (POW).
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Units served with
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Group
The 458th Bomb Group (H) entered combat with the 8th Air Force in February 1944. Based at Horsham St. Faith in England, the combat crews participated in the decisive Campaigns 'Big Week', 'Big B', D-Day and the assault on Germany's oil industry waged...
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Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
Horsham St Faith was an RAF Bomber Command Station opened in June 1940. It was home to Bristol Blenheim medium-bombers, and was for a time occupied by fighters, including those of No. 19 Squadron and No. 264 Squadron. From September 1942 the airfield...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Front Royal, Virginia, USA |
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Killed in Action (KIA) |
Germany |
22 April 1944 |
MACR 4180: Spaven's A/C was hit by flak at approximately 1938 hours SW of Hamm. The #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen. A/C then was brought under control and Lt George N Spaven Jr regained altitude and rejoined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control. Tailed and shot down by FW190 'Red 23' of Major Heinz Bär of II/JG1. Spaven KIA in final attack by Heinz Bar, remaining crew baled out. A/C crashed Hoetmar.
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