42-7766 - Heavy Date
Added details. - Kickapoo
Pilot 1st Lt. Eldon Neil Colby flew the B-24H, 42-7766, Heavy Date, on 8 missions, including the one he was shot down on by ME-110's near Charleville on the France/German border, on a raid to Ludwigshafenon. CoPilot Lt. Roger Taylor was KIA on that mission. Navigator Lt. Darwin Rasmussen and Flight Engineer Leonard Grima evaded capture with the help of the French resistance and finally made it back to England and returned to duty (RTD). The rest of the crew became POW's, including Lt. Eldon Colby, who sat out the rest of the war at Stalagluft 1 in Barth, Germany. Released 1945. Dec 30, 1943.
Standing (L-R)
CoPilot - Roger Taylor - KIA
Navigator - Darwin Rasmussen - POW
Bombardier - Robert Hosier - POW
Pilot - Eldon Neil Colby - POW - REL - 1945
Kneeling (L-R)
Waist Gunner - Joe Bagdonis - POW
Top Turret/Engineer - Tom Grima - POW
Radio Operator - Richard Peterson - POW
Tail Gunner - Leonard Grima - RTS
Waist Gunner - Stan Vaughn - POW
Ball Turret Gunner - Robert Pipkin - POW
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
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-740749
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Missions
- Date: 30 December 1943
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Fightin Sam
- Unit: VIII Bomber Command 389th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron 859th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - The Oklahoman
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Touch of Texas
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Heavy Date
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Belgium | 30 December 1943 |