41-31697 Duck Butt

B-26B-20-MA #41-31697 "Duck Butt" [TQ:R] was assigned to the 387BG/559BS at Chipping Ongar, UK. On 9-Sep-43 it was being piloted by 1LT Elwood R. McClendon. 1LT McClendon attempted to take off with a full bomb load in dense fog on instruments. He veered left too soon after takeoff and struck a tree, crashing the aircraft. Two bombs exploded on impact and vie other exploded six minutes after impact. Only the Tail Gunner survived with serious injuries. 5KOM 1INJ. No MACR issued.



P 1LT Elwood R. McClendon (KOM); CP 2LT Calvin C. Chalker, JR (KOM)

N/B 2LT Jack S. Rives (KOM); E/G SSGT Medardo T. Lopez (KOM)

RO/G SSGT George D. Bennett (KOM); SGT Acle B. Caywood (INJ)



This aircraft is also cited in 2 entries in aviationarchaeology.com - showing it was lost on 29 Nov 1943 with Walter J. Ives, - MACR 16096; in addition to the loss described above - MACR 16093

Connections

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

Units served with

387th Bomb Group

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

People

George D Bennett

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner

Acle B Caywood

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35265263
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Calvin C Chalker

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 559th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Martin Shea Cohen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron 558th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13098524
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Walter J Ives

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 387th Bomb Group 556th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Chipping Ongar, Ongar, Essex CM5, UK 9 September 1943 - 9 September 1943 Taking off on instruments the aircraft struck a tree and crashed with two bomb explodin on impact and the reaminin five bombs exploded six minutes later

Crashed

29 November 1943

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the A/C "Description" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Two conflicting citations in http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=41-31697&Submit6=Go. This requires further investigation.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee CUnningham 5-Jun-2015. Added crew position, rank, full proper name dispostion of crewmen and formatted crew display per "Losses of the 8ht & 9ht Air Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 5-Jun-2015. Made connections to Unit, Place adn Mission wihtin existing website data; Added Crashed event and crafted Description based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorTanks
Changes
Sources

http://asisbiz.com/il2/B-26-Marauder/1941031697.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 16063 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database