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B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for take off at Shipdham in 1943. The B-24D Liberator, 41-23818, Texan II, formerly, Bela, piloted by Lt. John B. Long and Lt. John F. McCormick, leads the lineup. One of her waist gunners is at his position.
Image stamped on reverse : 'Passed for publication 16 FEB 1943 General Section Press & Censorship Bureau' and 'Reviewed and Passed U.S. Army 16 Feb 1943 Press Officer No. 21 E.T.O.' Printed caption on reverse: '21-25. Liberator bombers taxiing up to take off for the start of an operational patrol at their base "somewhere in England". And February 17th 1943 PN'
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Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for First Lieutenant J.B. Long of the 44th Bomb Group. Researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances, causes of death, and memorialization of the fallen airman.
Note : The B-24D, 41-23818, named, Texan II, and flown by Lt. John McCormick. It was also, previously named, Marcie Ann, and, Bela. The plane was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, and the 67th Bomb Squadron, TDY to the 9th Air Force, USAAF, in Benghazi, Libya, should not be confused with another B-24D, 41-23808, named, Texan, and also flown earlier by Lt. John McCormick and Lt. John Long. - See : "B-24, 41-23808, Named The, Texan."
In early 1943, the aircraft, 41-23818, Texan II, also piloted by Lt. John B. Long and Lt. John F. McCormick was dispatched again to bomb the U Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. Shortly after leaving the English coast off Selsey Bill, Sussex, Texan II, sustained a mid air collision (MAC) with the B-24D, 42-50354, Snafu, also from the 44th Bomb Group and the 66th Bomb Squadron, flown close by, by it's Pilot Fred M. Billings. The two planes collided over the English Channel. Both aircraft came apart, exploded, crashed into the sea, and were lost. 20 crewman KIA. 16 Feb 1943. MACR 4697
B-24D Texan II Flight Crew :
Pilot 1st Lt. John B. Long - KIA
CoPilot 2nd Lt. John F. McCormick - KIA
Navigator 2nd Lt. Harold C. Cook - KIA
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Winthrop T. Frazee - KIA
Engineer/TopTurret Gunner Tech Sgt Raymond C. Stephens - KIA
Radio Operator Tech Sgt. Orna E. Cottington - KIA
BAE Staff Sgt. Stephen E. Parker, Jr. - KIA
AR SSgt Donald C. McGinnis - KIA
Bottom Turret Gunner Staff Sgt. William C. Crigger - KIA
Top Gunner Staff Sgt. Ralph C. Laurence - KIA
Service
Aircraft
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B-24 Liberator
Note : The B-24D, 41-23818, named, Texan II, and flown by Lt. John McCormick. It was also, previously named, Marcie Ann, and, Bela. The plane was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, and the 67th Bomb Squadron, TDY to the 9th Air Force, USAAF, in...
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator, Snafu, was first manufactured as a B-24D model with the serial number, 42-40354, but, later, was allocated and redesignated with the British Lend Lease RAF serial number, 40-2354, from a batch of unused serial numbers, initially...
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Units
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Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
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People
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Military | Master Sergeant | B-24 Bombardier/Togglier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Master Sergeant Henry Charletta, the Bombardier - Togglier in the B-24D, 42-40354, Snafu, was killed in action, KIA, in a mid air collision with the B-24D, 41-23818, Texan II, also in Snafu's 44th Bomb Group and 67th Bomb Squadron, just of the coast...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24 Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Lt. Harold Cook, while serving as navigator, in the B-24D, 41-23818, Texan II, the aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with the B-24D, 42-40354, Snafu, from the 44th Bomb Group, the 66th Bomb Squadron, just after leaving the English coast off of...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | B-24 Radio Operator - Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On 16 Feb 1943 in the B-24D, 41-23818, Texan II, SSgt. Orna Cottington, while serving as radio operator the aircraft, sustained a midair collision with the B-24D, 42-40354, Snafu, in the 44th Bomb Group, the 66th Bomb Squadron just after leaving the...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner; Ball Turret Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
SSgt William C. Crigger served as tail gunner on the B-24D, 41-23808, named, Texan, piloted by Lt. John A. Long. On January 3,1943, the aircraft crash-landed in a field near Aberporth Airfield, Cardiganshire, UK, returning from a mission over the...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24 Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Lt. Winthrop T. Frazee served as the bombardier on the B-24D, 41-23808, Texan. The aircraft crash landed in a field near Aberporth Airfield, Cardiganshire, U.K. returning from it's target, the U Boat submarine pens at St. Nazaire, France. A fuel...
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Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Lt. Amos Hutchison, while serving as a volunteer navigator on the aircraft, 42-40354, Snafu, sustained a mid-air collision with the B-24D, 41-23818, Bela - Texan II, from the 44th Bomb Group, the 67th Bomb Squadron, just off the English coast near...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner; Tail Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On January 3, 1943 B-24 #4123808 'Texan' crashed in field near Aberporth airfield, Cardiganshire, returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. 11RTD No MACR issued.
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Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
1st Lieutenant J.B. Long was born March 11, 1920, and was the son of Ben and Goldena Long. His hometown was May, Oklahoma.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On January 3, 1943 while serving as Copilot of his B-24D, 41-23808, Texan. Lt. John F. McCormick crash landed in a field near Aberporth Airfield, Cardiganshire, England, out of fuel, upon returning from their target, the U Boat submarine pens at St....
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On January 3, 1943 in B-24D 41-23808 'Texan' while serving as Waist Gunner the aircraft crash-landed in a field near Aberporth airfield, Cardiganshire, returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash....
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Missions
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16 February 1943
The port area and U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France are designated as the primary target of this mission of 71 B-17s and 18 B-24s. B-17s are from 91BG (18); 303BG (15); 305BG (18); 306BG (20) of these 59 are effective on the target and 6 are lost....
Places
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Military site : airfield
Shipdham was built in 1941-1942, the first US heavy bomber airfield in the English county of Norfolk. It was a standard design, with T2-type hangars and a domestic site dispersed to the south east. Improvements were carried out to increase the number...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return - Over Water |
English Channel |
16 February 1943 |
The aircraft, Texan II, sustained a mid air collision with the B-24D, 42-40354, Snafu, shortly after leaving the English coast off Selsey Bill, Sussex. Both planes exploded and crashed into the sea with all 10 crewmen MIA - KIA. 16 Feb 43. MACR 4697
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