41-34970 Margie

B-26C-15-MA 41-34970 was assigned to the 386BG/553BS at Boxted. On 8-Sep-43 the aircraft was part of a formation of 72 B-26s that had been despatched to bomb the German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France. The aircraft received extensive damage from anti-aircraft fire and was ditched in the sea off Goodwin Sands. All 5 crewmen were rescued by Air-Sea Rescue (ASR), the first ASR rescue of a B-26 crew, but the Engineer/Gunner SSGT John H. Park perished in the sea. Missing Air Crew Report 164 was issued to document the loss, but a copy of the MACR was not available from Fold3.com. Crew list from Bishop & Hey. 1KIA 4RTD (rescued by ASR)



P 2LT Romney J. Spencer (RTD); CP Not carried (RTD)

B J.H. Bowen (RTD); RO Harold Hadley

E SSGT John H. Park (KIA); TG Aubrey Ruess (RTD)

Connections

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Units served with

Lieutenant James T. Wilson and Lieutenant Robert J. Owen of the 386th Bomb Group in the cockpit of their B-26 Marauder. Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published.' [stamp], 'Ministry of Information 19 Aug 1943.' [stamp] nand '279545.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'AT THE US MARAUDERS BASE. The B-26 Marauders, American super medium bombers are operating now from bases in Britain. This series of pictures shows various scenes at the airfield where the ground crew and the fliers work together
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18130125
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 386th Bomb Group 552nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Goodwin Sands, United Kingdom 8 September 1943 Sustained damage from AA fire overt Lille, France and was ditched into the English Channel off Goodwin Sands, UK

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Jun-2015. Added NEW entry per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.