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B-24 Liberator
B-24D 41-23800, 44th Bomb Group, 68th Bomb Squadron was despatched in 15-Feb-43 to bomb the port area of Dunkirk, France. The aircraft lost one engine to flak, and another to enemy fighter attacks on the return. When nearing the Kent coast another engine quit and the pilot made a crash-landing on the beach of Sandwich Flats, Kent UK. 3KIA 7RTD. No MACR issued.
P Capt Thomas R. Cramer (RTD); CP 2Lt Charles E. Hughes (RTD)
N 1Lt William A. Poole (KIA); B 1Lt Robert K. Flynn (KIA)
E/TTG TSgt John W. Crump (KIA); RO TSgt Harry C. Hogan (RTD)
BTG Sgt James A. McCammond (RTD); WG Sgt Charles G. McMackin (RTD)
WG Sgt Gates (RTD); TG Sgt Lawson (RTD)
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...
Squadron
Military | Major | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 10 April 1942. ETO/Flight Echelon 2 October 1942. On 15 February 1943, B-24 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine out of action. FW 109s put out another engine then over the sea a...
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA). Joined Sqd 3-Aug-42. ETO/Flight Echelon 2-Oct-42. On 15-Feb-43 in B-24D 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' while serving as Engineer/Top Turret Gunner his aircraft was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine...
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 2-Aug-42. ETO/Flight Echelon 2-Oct-42. Killed in Action (KIA) 15-Feb-43 (Dunkirk). Pilot: Cramer. 2/15/1943B-24 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine out of action. FW 109s put out...
Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-23788.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Gunner; Radio Operator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 3-Aug-42. ETO/Flight Echelon 2-Oct-42. On 15-Feb-43 in B-24D 41-23800 "The Captain and the Kids' while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft was damaged by flak and enemy fighter attacks but managed to make it back to England where the...
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot; Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On 15-February 1943 in B-24D 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' while serving as Co-Pilot the aircraft was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine out of action. FW 109s put out another engine then over the sea a 3rd engine burst into...
Military | Sergeant | Ball TurretGunner, Waist Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Joined Sqd 3-Aug-42. ETO/Queen Mary 5-Sep-42. On 15-Feb-43 in B-24D 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' while serving as Ball Turret Gunner the aircraft was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine out of action. FW 109s put out another...
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA) 2/15/1943 when B-24 41-23800 'The Captain and the Kids' was hit by flak at the start of a bomb run putting an engine out of action. FW 109s put out another engine then over the sea a 3rd engine burst into flames. Cpt Cramer made...
15 February 1943
The port area of Dunkirk, France and any merchant vessels there are designated as the primary target of this mission. A total of 23 B-24s are despatched: 44BG (17) and 93BG (6). 21 are effective on the target, but 2 from 44BG are listed MIA and another...
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...
Not yet known
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 17 February 2015 18:51:19 | Lee8thbuff | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 17-Feb-2015. Added nickname per data in another entry for Charles E. Hughes on B-24D 42-40777. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 29 January 2015 21:23:14 | Lee8thbuff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, markings, description, unit associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 29-Jan-2015. All added information per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; formatted crew display. |
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