41-23818 - Texan II - Bela - Miss Marcie Ann
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' Roger Freeman Collection
Punctuation. - Kickapoo
Object Number - FRE 662 - 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...
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
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6890102
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier/Togglier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-662333
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20649538
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator - Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16041926
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner; Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727328
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Missions
![B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group fly over countryside. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 16 Feb 1943.' [stamp] Printed caption on reverse: '7-12 Liberator planes of U.S. Bomber Command in flight at the start of an operational patrol from their base "somewhere in England". And February 17th 1943 PN'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379113.jpg.webp?itok=PMFn3r3H)
- Date: 16 February 1943
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Texan
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Texan II - Bela - Miss Marcie Ann
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
![B-24 Liberator (serial number 40-2354) nicknamed "SNAFU" of the 44th Bomb Group Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 5 Sep 1942.' [stamp] and '219925.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418532.jpg.webp?itok=IEiQOkuO)
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Snafu
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other 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 |
Revisions
Removed punctuation marks from around aircraft names, for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
Removed punctuation marks from around aircraft names, for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
U.S Army Air Forces Painting Practices and Battle Colors -
---- Markings VIII Bomber Command
---- Best Web - B-24 - 41-23818 - Texan II
---- MACR 4697
---- "B-24, 41-23808, named the, Texan."
---- " U.S Army Air Forces Painting Practices and Battle Colors " ---- " Markings VIII Bomber Command " ---- Best Web - B-24 - 41-23818 - Texan II ----- MACR 4697
U.S Army Air Forces Painting Practices and Battle Colors, - Markings VIII Bomber Command.
---- Best web - B-24 - 41-23818 - Texan II
---- " B-24, 41-23808, Named the Texan "
---- MACR 4697
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40354 - Snafu - 41-23808 - Texan II - Bela - Marcie Ann
Changed basic painting details, painting and markings per USAAF specs. - Kickapoo
Changed all instances of aircraft name into sentence case to as per best practice for accessibility.
Reformatted aircraft nickname to remove unnecessary punctuation and quotation marks
Lee Cunningham 30-Jan-2015. Added nickname, markings, FTR description and crafted Description per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 4697; formatted crew display.
MACR 4697 & 3302 A / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database