42-95130 Spirit of Pocahontas

A B-24 Liberator (IS-P) of the 703rd Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A B-24 takes off from our field. During the war many Fortresses and Liberators made emergency landings here due to shortage of fuel, or being shot up, or weathered off their home base, or casualties aboard.' media-414285.jpg FRE 8104 A B-24 Liberator (IS-P) of the 703rd Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A B-24 takes off from our field. During the war many Fortresses and Liberators made emergency landings here due to shortage of fuel, or being shot up, or weathered off their home base, or casualties aboard.'

Aircraft is a B-24H-25 FO, tail number 42-95130 and was named "Spirit of Pocahontas". She was lost 21 Jun 44 after ditching in the English Channel - MACR 6766 Roger Freeman Collection

NARA records of the 445th Unit Historian

Object Number - FRE 8104 - A B-24 Liberator (IS-P) of the 703rd Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A B-24 takes off from...

Flew 12 missions with the 445th BG. On 21 Jun 44 it was damaged by flak while on a mission to Berlin, Germany (445th BG Mission # 108). The pilot was forced to ditch in the North Sea, which was rough at the time & the aircraft broke in two during the ditching. 4 crew were able to escape & get into a life raft, the remaining 5 crewmen went down with the aircraft when it sank. The survivors were rescued after 22 hours at sea.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

William J Diercks

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12076970
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Donald L Drake

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-123669
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Navigator, Navigator; Bombardier

Joe Farina

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39292548
  • Role/Job: Bombardier / Nose Gunner

John R Koppitz

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33401873
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Willard O Pease

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-817740
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'

Tibenham

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

North Sea 21 June 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorUALDC8
Changes
Sources

MACR 6766
Losses of the US 8th & 9th Air Forces - Vol 3
Battle Colors - Vol 1

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Chris Brassfield

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 6766 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-95130: Gallery (2 items)

A B-24 Liberator (IS-P) of the 703rd Bomb Squadron, 445th Bomb Group prepares for take off. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'A B-24 takes off from our field. During the war many Fortresses and Liberators made emergency landings here due to shortage of fuel, or being shot up, or weathered off their home base, or casualties aboard.'

Object number: FRE 8104 - A B-24 Liberator (IS-P) of the 703rd Bomb Squadron...

B-24H-25-FO #42-95130 Code: IS-P+ 445th BG 700th BS 'Spirit of Pocahontas'

Object number: UPL 22400 - B-24H-25-FO #42-95130 Code: IS-U+ 445th BG