Assigned to 482nd BG, 389th BG, 66BS, 44th BG, 8AF USAAF. Lead ship on 5-Jun-44 mission to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, despite orders to the contrary, led formation back over the target after the bomb release failed during the critical point of the initial pass. Hit by multiple flak hits, leaving the pilot Capt Louis A Mazure dead and other crew members injured, with hung up bombs and leaking fuel the engines were shut down and a glide to blighty established. The co pilot assisted by a severely wounded Colonel Leon R Vance managed to get the aircraft over the coast of England so the crew could bale out. Colonel Vance remained aboard alone, mistakenly believing a fatally wounded crew member was still on board and ditched off Broadstairs, Kent. The A/C then exploded, ejecting Colonel Vance, who managed to swim ashore. 1 x KIA, 3 x WIA, 3 x RTD injured, 7 x RTD.