43-9745 Sugar Baby
416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF
Wethersfield, UK
Pilot: 1LT Robert Lesher, center
Object Number - UPL 47882 - A-20G-30-DO #43-9745 "Pretty Baby" Code: 5H-I 416th BG - 668th BS - 9th AF Wethersfield, UK Pilot: 1LT Robert Lesher, center
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31110809
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron 670th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-397619
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot - Squadron Operations Officer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 668th Bomb Squadron 416th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14165008
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 416th Bomb Group 668th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-684351
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Melun, Alsace
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Near Little Hadham | 31 July 1944 | First Lieutenant Robert D. Lesher, 0-684361, took off at 1735 31 July 1944, on an operational mission. After the assembly, the formation proceeded enroute approximately five minutes when, the pilot’s attention was called to the fact that his left engine was smoking. Three minutes later, the left engine failed completely. The pilot immediately attempted to determine the cause of the failure, but being unable to do so, immediately turned out of the formation and feathered the propeller of the left engine. The failure occurred at an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet; in the turn and during the interval the pilot was attempting to determine the cause of the failure, the aircraft had lost altitude to approximately 600 feet above the ground. The pilot attempted to fly the aircraft on the one good engine. Unable to maintain level flight, the pilot jettisoned his bombs in an open field in order to reduce the weight of the aircraft. The aircraft continued to lose altitude. Seeing that a crash landing was inevitable the pilot set course for an open wheat field, which he overshot and crash landed wheels up in the last third of the field. The plane skidded through a hedgerow and ditch, where it is believed the plane sustained severe structural damage. |
