41-28690 Missouri Sue

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.

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 489th Bomb Group Headquarters Squadron (489th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: O-022050
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot; Group Commanding Officer

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

English Channel off Broadstairs, UK 5 June 1944 It ditched off Broadstairs, Kent, after leading 489BG on 5-Jun-44.

Manufactured

Tulsa, OK, USA Built at Douglas for Consolidated.

Delivered

Oklahoma, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Other

Transferred

Shipdham, UK Transferred to 66BS, 44th BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com/missouribelle.htm
Mission to Berlin: The American Airmen Who Struck the Heart of Hitler's Reich by Robert F Dorr.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Mazure&GSfn=Louis…;

Date
Contributorgrahamkipping
Changes
Sources

pilots log