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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 8 September 1943
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
Lee Cunningham 3-Jun-2015. Added NEW entry per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.