42-67077 Mountain Ayers
Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. Personal aircraft of Lt Jerry H Ayers. Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort mission to Bremen, on return journey whilst letting down through overcast, seen to spin off of formation into a dive and continue straight into the ground, near Wakerly, Northamptonshire, where it exploded. Pilot William K Birch Killed in Action (KIA).
A/C pictures:
http://www.ww2color.com/search/webapps/slides/slides.php?action=update&…
http://www.ww2color.com/search/webapps/slides/slides.php?action=update&…
http://www.station131.co.uk/55th/images/Plane%20Photos/38th%20FS/38th%2…
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14063544 / O-659441
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 38th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18097385 / O-740136
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other E/A Destroyed |
Arras, France | 25 November 1943 | Me109 destroyed near Arras. 25-Nov-43. Pilot William K Birch. |
Other E/A Destroyed |
Germany | 29 November 1943 | E/A destroyed 29-Nov-43. Mission flown from Nuthampstead. |
Crashed |
Wakerley, Oakham LE15, UK | 16 December 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) bomber escort mission to Bremen, on return journey whilst letting down through overcast, seen to spin off of formation into a dive and continue straight into the ground, near Wakerly, Northamptonshire, where the aircraft P-38H 42-67077 'Mountain Ayers' exploded. Pilot William K Birch Killed in Action (KIA). |
Manufactured |
Burbank, CA, USA | Built at Lockheed. | |
Delivered |
California, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
Assigned |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6, UK | Assigned to 38FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. |