42-63988 Birmingham Blitzkrieg
The B-24D, 42-63988, was assigned to the 93rd Bomb Group, the 328th Bomb Squadron, in the 8th Air Force, in the U.K. was named, Birmingham Blitzkrieg, and was flown by Lt. Claude A. Turner, who was killed (KIA) when he was shot down and crashed in the North Sea east of Husum, Germany, by an FW 190A-6, believed flown by the German ace, Franz Steiner, of JG 11/2. All 10 crewmen, including the pilot, Lt. Claude Turner, were killed in action. 10 KIA. Nov 13, 1943. MACR 2180 Target: Bremen, Germany Port Area Note : On this date the the 8th Air Force carried out a raid on Bremen, Germany. The 93rd Bomb Group lost 5 of 8 effective ships, with over 52 airman unaccounted for. Birmingham Blitzkreig's Crew : 1st Lt. Claude A. Turner
Pilot : 1st Lt. Claude A. Turner - SS MIA/KIA
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR 2180 :
Date Lost : 13 Nov 43
Serial Number : 42-63988
Aircraft Model : B-24D
Aircraft Letter :
Aircraft Name : Birmingham Blitzkreig
Location : North Sea - East of Husum, Germany
Cause : Shot down by enemy aircraft.
The airplane, 42-63988, Birmingham Blitzkrieg, and it's crew members, were lost at sea. None of them were recovered from this mission. Their names appear on Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery. One is listed Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
2nd Lt. Robert E. Geiss
2nd Lt Kenneth E. Crawford
2nd Lt. Junior J. Rule
1st Lt. Frank F. Davis
TSgt. John L. Frey
TSgt. Theodore A. Stephenson
SSgt. William F. Hanson
SSgt. Donald A. Hinds
SSgt. Walter E. Nalett
SSgt. Harry R. Stehnach
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-749426
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35739127
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676463
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11096127
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 13 November 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
North Sea | 13 November 1943 | Reports differ. B-17G Aircraft 42-63988, Blitzktieg, was shot down by either flak or by an attacking FW-190 fighter over the North Sea after a mission to Bremen , Germany with the loss of the aircraft and crew - MACR 2180. Nov 13, 1943. |
Revisions
Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - Birmingham Blitzkrieg
Spelling, punctuation changes. - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Markings note. - Kickapoo
Spelling, punctuation - Kickapoo
FindAGrave Memorial - 1Lt. Robert E. Geiss
Best Web - B-24 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Spelling - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24 - 42-63988 - BIRMINGHAM BLITZKRIEG
Names, spelling, serial number changes - Kickapoo
USAAF B-24 Serial Number Search
USAF Serial Number Search Results
USAF Serial Number Search Results
FindAGrave - John L. Frey
Various 93rd BG Docs.
WWII Aircraft Crashes In The Netherlands and the North Sea
B-24 - Best Web - # 42-40608 - 'The Valient Virgin'
MACR 2180 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database