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42-63988

B-24 Liberator

  • B-24D - Lt. Claude Alvin Turner - Command Pilot B-24D - 42-40608, THE VULGAR VIRGIN. Lt. Turner and his entire crew were killed in action, (KIA) in the B-24D, 42-40765, BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG. Shot down over Bremen, Germany. Nov 13, 1943. MACR 2180

    B-24D - Lt. Claude Alvin Turner - Command Pilot B-24D - 42-40608, THE VULGAR VIRGIN. Lt. Turner and his entire crew were killed in action, (KIA) in the B-24D, 42-40765, BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG. Shot down over Bremen, Germany. Nov 13, 1943. MACR 2180

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  • 2Lt. Robert E Geiss - KIA in the B-24D, BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG. Shot down by an ME-110 fighter plane after a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany, Nov 13 1944

    2Lt. Robert E Geiss - KIA in the B-24D, BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG. Shot down by an ME-110 fighter plane after a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany, Nov 13 1944

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The B-24D, 42-63988, was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, the 328th Bomb Squadron, in the 8th Air Force, in the U.K. was named, Birmingham Blitzkrieg, and was flown by Lt. Claude A. Turner, who was killed (KIA) when he was shot down and crashed in the North Sea east of Husum, Germany, by an FW 190A-6, believed flown by the German ace, Franz Steiner, of JG 11/2. All 10 crewmen, including the pilot, Lt. Claude Turner, were killed in action. 10 KIA. Nov 13, 1943. MACR 2180
Pilot : 1st Lt. Claude A. Turner - SS MIA/KIA

Target: Bremen, Germany Port Area
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR 2180 :
Date Lost : 13 Nov 43
Serial Number : 42-63988
Aircraft Model : B-24D
Aircraft Letter :
Aircraft Name : Birmingham Blitzkreig
Location : North Sea - East of Husum, Germany
Cause : Shot down by enemy aircraft.

Note : On this date the the 8th Air Force carried out a raid on Bremen, Germany. The 93rd Bomb Group lost 5 of 8 effective ships, with over 52 airman unaccounted for.
The airplane, 42-63988, Birmingham Blitzkrieg, and it's crew members, were lost at sea. None of them were recovered from this mission. Their names appear on Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery. One is listed Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.

Birmingham Blitzkreig's Crew :

1st Lt. Claude A. Turner
2nd Lt. Robert E. Geiss
2nd Lt Kenneth E. Crawford
2nd Lt. Junior J. Rule
1st Lt. Frank F. Davis
TSgt. John L. Frey
TSgt. Theodore A. Stephenson
SSgt. William F. Hanson
SSgt. Donald A. Hinds
SSgt. Walter E. Nalett
SSgt. Harry R. Stehnach

Service

Aircraft

  • 42-63988 - Birmingham Blitzkrieg

    B-24 Liberator
    ...

  • 41-24198 - The Vulgar Virgin - Hell From Heaven - Shoot You're Faded

    B-24 Liberator
    - The B-24D, 41-24198, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bomb Squadron, was one of 2 B-24Ds in the MTO based at Benghazi, Libya, with identical nose art pictures, and both named, The Vulgar Virgin, this one, 41-24198, flown...

  • 42-40608 - The Vulgar Virgin

    B-24 Liberator
    NOTE - The B-24D, named, The Vulgar Virgin, 42-40608, was originally in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bomb Squadron, in...

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Units

  • 93rd Bomb Group

    93rd Bomb Group

    Group
    The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...

  • 328th Bomb Squadron

    328th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Kenneth Crawford

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • John Frey

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Robert Geiss

    Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24 Bombardier | 93rd Bomb Group
    Lt. Robert Geiss was signed to the 328th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF, in the U.K. He was shot down and killed (KIA) with his pilot, Lt. Claude A. Turner and his entire crew in the B-24D, 42-63988, named, Birmingham...

  • William Hanson

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Donald Kinds

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Walter Nalett

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner, Waist Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #42-63988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Junior Rule

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #42-63988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Harry Stehnach

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Theodore Stephenson

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Shot down 13 November 1943 in B-24 #4263988. Plane crashed into North Sea. Killed in Action (KIA). AM/ PH

  • Claude Turner

    Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
    Lt. Claude A. Turner was born in Travis Peak, Texas, on Oct 22, 1919. He trained as an aviation pilot at Kelly Field and other air bases in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. After receiving his pilot's wings, Turner was assigned to the 8th Air Force,...

Missions

  • VIII Fighter Command FO-180 BOMBER ESCORT

    13 November 1943
    This mission is composed of two fighter elements. The first element is a force of 45 P-38s from 55FG despatched to escort the B-17 formations attacking at Bremen, Germany. 7 aircraft Failed to Return (FTR) 4KIA 3POW. 2 are Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR)...

Places

  • Hardwick

    Military site : airfield
    Planned as an RAF bomber airfield, Hardwick was used first by the 310th Bomb Group, equipped with B-25 Mitchells. B-24 Liberators of the 93rd Bomb Group moved in briefly in March 1943, then returned in June 1943 remaining until the end of the war and...

Events

Event Location Date
Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) North Sea 13 November 1943

Reports differ. B-17G Aircraft 42-63988, BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG, was shot down by either flak or by an attacking FW-190 fighter over the North Sea after a mission to Bremen , Germany with the loss of the aircraft and crew - Nov 13, 1943.
Nicknames
- Birmingham Blitzkrieg
Production block number
B-24-D-CO
Manufacturer
Consolidated
Markings and paint scheme/livery

Note : No photos found for this airplane.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
11 May 2022 18:05:37 Kickapoo Changes to production block number, nicknames, description and unit associations
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - Birmingham Blitzkrieg
Date Contributor Update
16 October 2021 22:19:51 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Spelling, punctuation changes. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 13:20:50 Kickapoo Changes to markings, description and events
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 13:18:04 Kickapoo Changes to markings
Sources

Markings note. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 13:15:43 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Spelling, punctuation - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 12:02:05 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

FindAGrave Memorial - 1Lt. Robert E. Geiss
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 11:54:12 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Date Contributor Update
08 August 2021 11:48:41 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames
Sources

Spelling - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2021 09:13:58 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2021 09:06:22 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames, description and aircraft associations
Sources

Names, spelling, serial number changes - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
05 April 2021 05:11:39 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

USAAF B-24 Serial Number Search
Date Contributor Update
02 March 2021 17:26:06 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

USAF Serial Number Search Results
Date Contributor Update
02 March 2021 17:21:14 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

USAF Serial Number Search Results
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2021 01:16:02 Kickapoo Changes to production block number and manufacturer
Sources

FindAGrave - John L. Frey
Date Contributor Update
06 February 2021 00:58:11 Kickapoo Changes to aircraft type and description
Sources

Various 93rd BG Docs.
Date Contributor Update
04 February 2021 15:46:15 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames, description and events
Sources

WWII Aircraft Crashes In The Netherlands and the North Sea
Date Contributor Update
04 February 2021 09:47:07 Kickapoo Changes to aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, description, events, aircraft associations, unit associations, place associations and mission associations
Sources

B-24 - Best Web - # 42-40608 - 'The Valient Virgin'
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:59 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

MACR 2180 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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