41-29505 Gunga Din
John Van Asperen received this from the USAF spring 2022
Object Number - UPL 57309 - Individual Aircraft Record Card for 41-29505 "Gunga-Din"
41-29505 Assigned to 486th bomb group 835th bomb squadron (21 combat missions) then transferred to 492nd bomb group 857th bomb squadron, 8thAAF, England. A/C lost with Charles Edwards crew, 6-Feb-45 Lyon, France, attempting an emergency landing on three engines. 1 x RTD, 8 x KIA
Crew:
Lt. Charles H Edwards (P) (KIA), Lt. Merrill A Burt (CP) (RTD), Lt. Gerald L Roy (N) (KIA), Lt. Edwin London (B) (KIA), Sgt. James D Matthews (E) (KIA), Sgt. James O Mellotte (RO) (KIA), Sgt. John T Stuckey (BTG) (KIA), Sgt. Mose C Boren Martin (TTG) (KIA), Sgt. Russell G Wolfersberger (TTG) (KIA).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 857th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 19106534
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 857th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 39410658 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16092205
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 857th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-719592
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 486th Bomb Group 835th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Acton
Missions
- Date: 11 May 1944
Revisions
Corrected production block number as per information from individual aircraft record card (UPL 57309), Joe Baugher's aircraft serial numbre search and Harrington Museum's list of carpetbagger aircraft which confirm the aircraft was a Consolidated built B-24H model.
NB B-24 Best web wrongly identifies the aircraft as a Ford built B-24J model
Update with information from the 486th bomb group, 835th bomb squadron website
RG Wolfersberger was the tail turret gunner and was also killed in the crash.
See the official web page of the 486th Bomb. Group at: https://486th.org/# , and specifically G.Smith's bomber crew and mission log page: https://486th.org/BS835/SmithG.htm , and the complete missions of the 486th Bomb. Group and its four squadrons at: https://486th.org/Mssn/Prologue.htm
From the official web page of the 486th Bomb. Group, and specifically, Lt. G. Smith's crew and mission page at: https://486th.org/BS835/SmithG.htm
