43-12375 Bonnie B

media-16270.jpeg UPL 16270 P-51B 43-12375 FT*E Bonnie B. 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th FG, 8th AF.

USAAF Photo.

Object Number - UPL 16270 - P-51B 43-12375 FT*E Bonnie B. 353rd Fighter Squadron, 354th FG, 8th AF.

P-51B Mustang FT*E 43-12375 "Bonnie B", 353rd FS, 354th FG, 9th AF. While on a fighter sweep in the Reims, France area he took the squadron down to strafe a German airfield. On their second pass his plane took hits in the wing and fuselage, then went into a straight vertical climb, stalled and dove straight down into the ground. Beerbower jetisoned the canopy during these manuevers and managed to get out of the aircraft, only to hit the tail. He never opened his chute. The plane crashed 500 meters south of St. Thierry, France. 9th Aug 44. KIA. MACR 8150.

Connections

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Units served with

People

Don Merrill Beerbower

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 354th Fighter Group 353rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-730341
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Fighter pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Saint-Thierry, France 9 August 1944 - 9 August 1944 While on a fighter sweep in the Reims, France area pilot Capt Don M Beerbower took the squadron down to strafe a German airfield. On their second pass his plane took hits in the wing and fuselage, then went into a straight vertical climb, stalled and dove straight down into the ground. Beerbower jetisoned the canopy during these manuevers and managed to get out of the aircraft, only to hit the tail. He never opened his chute. The plane crashed 500 meters south of St. Thierry, France. 9th Aug 44. KIA. MACR 8150.

Assigned

Lashenden, Biddenden, Ashford, Kent TN27, UK Assigned 353rd FS, 354th FG, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmacr.asp?MACR=8150 MACR 8150 bare bones.
http://www.fold3.com/image/28700055/ MACR 8150 Details.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/7990150577 Accident Details.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 8150 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

43-12375: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 16270 - P-51B 43-12375 FT*E Bonnie B. 353rd Fighter...

Object number: UPL 16273 - North American P-51B Mustang FT*E 43-12375 "Bonnie...