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B-24 Liberator
B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG
B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG "Returning from the 376th Bomb Group's 200th mission on December 14,1943 to bomb the airfield at Athens Tatoi. Shown from L-R: Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Ridenhour - 47th Bomb Wing Commander, Col. Keith K. Compton - 376th BG Commander, Capt. E. Lynn Hester - Bombardier, Unknown"
B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG "Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Ridenhour congratulates crew chief Loyson Rankin on the performance of 'Big Nig' after returning from a mission as an observer. Col. Keith K. Compton stands behind Ridenhour."
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. 10 x KIA MACR 1592
Crew - (P) Robert W Brown, (CP) Florian E Laramore, (N) Jack Larsen, (B) Henry C Alexander, (RO) Cyril F Heath, (E), Samuel Schankerman, (G) Ken W Runyan,(G) Alvin Dschaak,(BG) Eugene Studer, (TG) Robert H Renner.
Group
Constituted as 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942 and activated in Palestine on 31 Oct. Began combat immediately, using B-24 aircraft. Operated with Ninth AF from bases in the Middle East, Nov 1942-Sep 1943, and with Twelfth AF from Tunisia...
Squadron
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: PH.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: PH.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Kiled in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Crew chief | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF.
Awards: GC, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Turret Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 1592
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: AM, PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight engineer / Top turret | 376th Bomb Group
Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592
Awards: PH.
Military site : airfield
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Assigned | San Pancrazio, Italy | 1943 |
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Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. |
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| Crashed | Sofia, Bulgaria | 20 December 1943 |
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Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. 10 x KIA MACR 1592 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 20 January 2021 18:21:17 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.b24bestweb.com/bignig1.htm |
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