41-28666 Dixie DuDrop

Object Number - UPL 23043 - B-24 Liberator 41-28666 'Dixie DuDrop' 703BS, 445BG, 8AF USAAF. Previously assigned to 458th BG as one of that Group's original aircraft flown to...

Assigned 458BG re-assigned to 703BS, 445BG, 8AF USAAF as a replacement aircraft. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Friedrickshafen left formation under control on reciprocal course, hit by 3 x Fw190 fighters causing fire in bomb bay, most of crew baled before explosion. 1 x EVD, 5 x POW, 4 x KIA [1 x chute failed to open, remaining 3 killed in explosion]. MACR 3324.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

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

People

Kenneth F Bradford

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner

James P Cass

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Ned A Daugherty

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13130379
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Robert F Jones

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Wallace C Luce

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35528409
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'

Tibenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Enroute to England

Scotland 29 January 1944 - 8 February 1944 Made the northern Atlantic crossing.

Other

Assigned

Tibenham, Norwich NR16, UK 12 February 1944 - 18 March 1944 Assigned 703BS, 445BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

NE of Paris, France 18 March 1944 Lost on mission to bomb the Dornier Werke & Mayback Motorenbau factory in Friedrichshafen, Germany. MACR #3334

Manufactured

Tulsa, OK, USA Built at Douglas.

Delivered

Oklahoma, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Revisions

Date19 May 2022 12:37:32
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28628516
www.b24bestweb.com

Date7 Feb 2020 15:48:44
Contributorphil marchese
Sources

Marchese, B-24 Identification Tool, 2000; Doulglas underside pattern.
This one is low starting point and open, long cycle pattern.

Date12 Aug 2016 13:00:34
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28628516
www.b24bestweb.com

Date12 Aug 2016 12:55:45
ContributorAl_Skiff
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/28628516

Date8 May 2015 21:31:40
ContributorB24Mike
Sources

Aircraft Record card and mission load list data from the National Archives.

Date27 Sep 2014 18:40:05
ContributorAAM
Sources

MACR 3334 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-28666: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 23043 - B-24 Liberator 41-28666 'Dixie DuDrop' 703BS...