42-95878 Weary Lera

Assigned to 344BG, 9AF USAAF. Transferred to 1st Pathfinder Sqn, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Euskirchen railroad bridge in B-26 42-95878 'Weary Lera' shot down by flak while leading 322BG crashed in flames near Bonn, left engine on fire, three bailed out, two did not reach the ground alive 1 x POW, 6 x KIA. MACR 14626.



Crew: Pilot Capt Wilbur G Cox [IL], Co 2Lt Daniel P Winegar Jr [CA], Nav 1Lt Ernest E Todd Snr [TX], Bomb 1Lt Paul E Ostrom [WI], T/Sgt Ira L Mooney [PA], T/Sgt Salvatore A Vizi [NY], S/Sgt Charles J Bohn POW.

Connections

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Units served with

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32012302
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-791676
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 574th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13044644
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Ninth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 20561189 / O-731219
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18082726 / O-706986
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 23 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Bonn, Germany 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Euskirchen railroad bridge in B-26 42-95878 'Weary Lera' shot down by flak while leading 322BG crashed in flames near Bonn, left engine on fire, three bailed out, two did not reach the ground alive 1 x POW, 5 x KIA. MACR 14626.

Manufactured

Offutt AFB, NE, USA Built at Martin.

Delivered

Nebraska, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Stansted Mountfitchet, Stansted CM24, UK Assigned to 344BG, 9AF USAAF.

Assigned

Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom Transferred to 1st Pathfinder Sqn, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 11551 / MACR 11876 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database