42-78471 Fertile Myrtle
Scan from original photo used for October 1944 issue of AIR FORCE magazine.
https://www.fold3.com/image/29020533?terms=states,war,macr,world,united…
https://www.fold3.com/image/29021405?terms=states,war,macr,world,united…
Object Number - UPL 60207 - Nazi oil goes up in smoke as Consolidated B-24s of the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces smash an oil refinery at Budapest, Hungary.
B-24G 42-78471 "Fertile Myrtle", 15th USAAF, 451st BG, 724th BS, shot down over Schwarzkogel / Steiermark, Austria on 23 August 1944. MACR 7966. Four crew KIA. Point Of Departure: Castelluccio, Italy. 23 August 1944: on a mission to bomb Markersdorf airdrome in Austria, B-24G serial 42-78471 "Fertile Myrtle" was savaged by enemy fighters. Pilot 2Lt Cornelius E. Donoghue was KIA, but five of his crew managed to survive. The crew's copilot, 2Lt George L. Hogan, and bombardier, 2Lt Clarence O. Roettger, carried sidearms & extra ammo, vowing to evade capture at all costs if they were shot down; both were apparently executed by the Gestapo for shooting civilians during their evasion (MACR 7966).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 451st Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-716765
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 23 August 1944
Revisions
MACR 7966
https://www.fold3.com/image/29020533
https://www.fold3.com/image/29021405?terms=states,war,macr,world,united…
https://www.fold3.com/image/28667607/28667613
https://www.451st.org/Aircraft/pdfs/451st%20Aircraft%20Spreadsheet.pdf
https://www.bundesheer.at/download_archiv/pdfs/missing_in_action.pdf
