42-95592 Black Cat

media-45399.jpeg UPL 45399 B-24J-1-FO #42-95592 "Black Cat" Code: T9-U
466th BG - 784th BS
PFF lead ship. Black Cat was the last 8th AF B-24 shot down during the war. 466th Bomb Group collection

Chris Brassfield personal collection

Object Number - UPL 45399 - B-24J-1-FO #42-95592 "Black Cat" Code: T9-U 466th BG - 784th BS PFF lead ship. Black Cat was the last 8th AF B-24 shot down during the war.

On 21 April 1945 B-24 Liberator "Black Cat" became the last heavy bomber to be shot down in the European Theatre of Operations.



The aircraft was hit by flak on a mission to Regensburg and the wing broke off. Three men were seen to escape, but the rest perished when the ship crashed.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-716310
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12157563
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12206828
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
  • Site type: Aircraft crash site
  • Known as: Black Cat Memorial

Missions

  • Date: 6 December 1944
  • Date: 30 November 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

First 466th BG mission

Vechta, Germany 15 August 1944

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Scharmassing, 93083 Obertraubling, Germany 21 April 1945 Hit in the left wing by flak. Crashed, killing 10 of 12 crewmembers of the Richard Farrington Crew. "I think I will never forget the image of "Black Cat" being hit and going down. She was flying as the 3rd squadron lead. In the turn to abort Black Cat slid slid underneath my deputy squadron lead until it seemed right off my left wing (underneath of course). I can still see the flames coming out of the bomb bay just before they tell me it exploded. The human interest story is that most of the crew were on their final mission, and so near the end of the war too. My crew reported only seeing two chutes coming out. When the abort turn was ordered by Col. (Brunow) Feiling, my navigator called and told me a left turn would take us right over Regensburg, a heavy flak area. I told my navigator to call the lead ship, which he did, only to catch hell for breaking radio silence." - Bill Proppe

Revisions

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Bill Proppe letter to Chris Brassfield - 3 March 2000
466th BG Archives

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 14182 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-95592: Gallery (13 items)