41-24447 Kickapoo

Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-H] Bangor 29-Aug-42; Bassingbourn 1-Oct-42; Missing in Action {11m} Wilhelmshafen 26-Feb-43. Flak hit caused fire in #4, crashed North Sea. 10 Killed in Action, Missing Air Crew Report 4830. KICKAPOO.

Ten crewmen Killed in Action an Missing 26 February 1943 in B-17F 41-24447 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron while on a mission to Wilhelmshaven, Germany.
The aircraft was hit by German flak which set engine four afire and caused them to crash into the North Sea approximately 80 miles northwest of Wilhelmshaven. MACR 4830.

O-728163 Ralston E Bixler 2L NJ Navigator

O-727619 Cassius Brandenburg 2L LA Bombardier

15098471 Robert A De Barbrie SS OH Waist Gunner

12059493 Herbert E Fisher SS NY Tail Gunner

14080617 Everett Gause TS FL Radio Operator/Gunner

39165252 Walter E Gilroy TS CA Top Turret Gunner

O-662777 Harry O Green 1L TX Co-pilot

16035783 Gregg Nesemeier SS IL Waist Gunner

16047423 Arthur A Sullivan SS WI Ball Turret Gunner

O-431064 John T Swais Cp TX Pilot

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Ralston Elwell Bixler

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728163
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Cassius C Brandenburg

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727619
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Robert A De Barbrie

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15098471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Herbert E Fisher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12059493
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Everett Gause

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14080617
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

North Sea 26 February 1943 Last seen 20 miles north of Norderney Island with #4 engine smoking. Crashed into the sea with the loss of all crew.

Revisions

Date23 Dec 2022 16:14:15
ContributorTallPaul19
Changes
Sources

Update to mission date, incorrectly listed as '44 in Biography. 

Date4 Sep 2019 19:55:18
Contributordrjones46
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

macr 4830 and FindaGrave

Date1 Jun 2015 01:31:50
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to events
Sources

Lee Cunningham 31-May-2015. Corrected typos in FTR event.

Date8 May 2015 20:34:52
ContributorLee8thbuff
ChangesChanges to nicknames, markings, description, events, place associations and mission associations
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-May-2015. Added nickname, markings, Radio Call Sign, loss note on FTR event; edited Description to change dates to militray-style notation; added crew position, rank and full prorper name and formatted crew display per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey, MBE. Also reference MACR 3575.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:02
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 3575 / MACR 4830 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database