42-72857 - Star Spangled Hell
The B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-72857, named, Star Spangled Hell, was assigned to the 506th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF, temporarily attached to 9th Air Force, USAAF, TDY to Benghazi, Libya, North Africa. The aircraft failed to return (FTR) from Weiner Neustadt, Germany, with Lt. Olson's crew after being attacked by 5 ME-109's. With it's bomb bay and one engine on fire, Lt. Olson peeled off in a dive, while being pursued by German fighter planes. After all the crew, except Pilot Olson, had bailed out, the bomber crashed and exploded 10 miles north of Weiner Neustadt, Germany. 1 Oct 43. 9 POW. 1 KIA. MACR 51251
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20827330 / O-408633
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39094739
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16131104
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner; Assistant Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38157563
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Armorer; Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35255236
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
North of Weiner Neustadt, Austria | 1 October 1943 | Failed to Return (FTR) Weiner Neustadt; mauled by fighters, exploded north of target. 9 x POW, 1 x KIA MACR 51251 |
|
Manufactured |
Willow Run, Ypsilanti, MI | Built at Consolidated. | |
|
Assigned |
Shipdam, Thetford, UK | Assigned to 506BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Benina, Libya | Attached to 9AF USAAF, TDY in North Africa. |
Revisions
Removed punctuation from aircraft name for uniformity, clarity, and readability. - Kickapoo
MACR 15251 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database