44-6838 Spirit of Martinez, Cal's Rascals
Object Number - UPL 25992 - 44-6838 "Spirit of Martinez"
Delivered Hunter 27/11/44; Grenier 16/12/44; Assigned 335BS/95BG [OE-E] Horham 1/1/45; battle damaged Chemnitz 6/2/45 with D.V. Tregoning, force landed B-53, Merville, Bel. then rep; 53m, Returned to the USA Bradley 21/6/45; Sth Plains 23/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 19/12/45. CAL'S RASCALS aka THE SPIRIT OF MARTINEZ. The “Spirit of Martinez” “our very own Flying Fortress Bomber” piloted mostly by Martinez native Lt. Frank Calicura of the 8th Air Force, 95th BG in Europe. The citizens of Martinez raised $800,000 in war bonds so Frank was granted permission to name a plane after his home town. The crew flew 28 bombing missions over Germany and 3 food supply drops over Holland.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Air Division 13th Combat Bomb Wing 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner ; Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Air Division 13th Combat Bomb Wing 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 6 February 1945
- Date: 9 February 1945
- Date: 14 February 1945
- Official Description: Mission 830: 1,377 bombers and 962 fighters are dispatched to hit oil and rail targets in Germany; bombing of most targets is by H2X radar; they claim 11-0-3 Luftwaffe aircraft; 7 bombers and 7 fighters are lost: 1. 461 B-17s are dispatched to hit...
- Date: 15 February 1945
- Date: 19 February 1945
Revisions
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Associated Group
based off multiple sources and images
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log
