41-31765 Fightin Cock
In a letter Howard Posson wrote to his brother John, he said the following....
“I've got a new ship now and after a lot of sweating, cussing, and even thinking, we named it the Fightin' Cock. One of the fellows painted a chicken on the side and now we're all set. It's not a very good or original name, but it's hard to think of a good name for a plane. Remember how much trouble Freddie and I had trying to pick a name for the canoe and then never did find a good one. It's the same way with a plane only I've had five of them now and am about out of names. If you can think of one, send it to me together with an idea of a picture to go with it and I'll use it on my next plane. How bout some help brudder John?” Howard M. Posson photos
Posson family records/photos, Los Angeles Times and Fresno Bee newspaper articles
Object Number - UPL 48036 - Captain Howard M. Posson (Back row, third from the left) with the crew of "Fightin Cock", Serial Number 41-31765, Coded ER-X, 322nd BG, 450th BS,...
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. **A YEAR LATER THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT OCCURED** This aircraft was written-off after crash landing on 12th August 1944. It had received flak damage while over Flers, France and had its electrical system, generators and hydraulic systems shot out. The crew nursed it back to the base, Great Saling, Essex, USAAF St 485, renamed, Andrews Field, and got the gear cranked down after which the pilot ordered the enlisted men to bail out. While trying to land the plane skidded off the runway and into the control tower, killing both pilots. MACR 15747. Crew: 2nd Lt. John R. Walker, Jr. - Pilot (O-814603) KIA
Serial Number: 41-31765
Coded: ER-X
Block Production Number:B-26B-20-MA
Manufacturer: Martin
Name: Fightin' Cock - In a letter Capt. Howard M. Posson wrote to his brother John on August 6, 1943, he said the following....“I've got a new ship now and after a lot of sweating, cussing, and even thinking, we named it the, Fightin' Cock. One of the fellows painted a chicken on the side and now we're all set. It's not a very good or original name, but it's hard to think of a good name for a plane. Remember how much trouble Freddie and I had trying to pick a name for the canoe and then never did find a good one. It's the same way with a plane only I've had five of them now and am about out of names. If you can think of one, send it to me together with an idea of a picture to go with it and I'll use it on my next plane. How bout some help brudder John?”
2nd Lt. Bruce Taylor - Co-Pilot (O-764829) KIA
S/Sgt. Ernest Pilot - Togglier (16108300) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. George E. Peterson - Engineer/Gunner (36650962) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. John B. Hill - Radio Operator/Gunner (16119103) EUS
Sgt. Marvin E. Vogt - Tail Gunner (37527425) RTD
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
![Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-17934) nicknamed "Pappy's Pram". Image stamped on reverse: 'Reveiwed and passed [illegible] 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'PN-Q 322.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379976.jpg.webp?itok=h9RDoVED)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16119103
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36650962
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16108300
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: Serial Number 4777, Order Number 438
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19069933 / O-764829
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Great Saling
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
- Nicknames: Fightin Cock
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other |
6 August 1943 | In a letter Howard Posson wrote to his brother John, he said the following.... “I've got a new ship now and after a lot of sweating, cussing, and even thinking, we named it the Fightin' Cock. One of the fellows painted a chicken on the side and now we're all set. It's not a very good or original name, but it's hard to think of a good name for a plane. Remember how much trouble Freddie and I had trying to pick a name for the canoe and then never did find a good one. It's the same way with a plane only I've had five of them now and am about out of names. If you can think of one, send it to me together with an idea of a picture to go with it and I'll use it on my next plane. How bout some help brudder John?” | |
|
Other Combat damaged |
61100 Flers, France | 12 August 1944 | Battle damaged. Hit by flak over target, Flers France. |
|
Crashed |
Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom | 12 August 1944 | Fatal crash at base, flak damaged with failed hydraulics, departed runway and crashed into control tower killing both pilots. MACR 15747. |
|
Manufactured Failed to Return (FTR) |
Offutt AFB, NE, USA | 12 August 1944 | Built at Martin. |
|
Delivered |
Nebraska, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom | Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Punctuation. - Kickapoo
Howard M. Posson family letter/photo, American Air Museum website, aircraft database at www.markstyling.com
MACR 15747 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
