452

4 July 1944
media-19045.png UPL 19045 Plaque in memory of the 7 crew members of 42-72873 who lost their lives on the night of 5 July 1944. Location : at the entrance to the municipal cemetery of Trancrainville (Eure-et-Loir), France.
Seven Killed In Action (KIA) : Pilot John O. Broten; Navigator Roy C. Gehue; Bombardier Alfred C. Emert; Radio Operator William Freidkas; Top Turret Gunner Harry L. Sparks; Left Waist Gunner Jessie R. Ellis; Tail Gunner Michael J. Pranzetelli. - Photo : family of the sole survivor, Co-Pilot Edward Tappan,

MACR 6990
Research on the crew

Object Number - UPL 19045 - Plaque in memory of the 7 crew members of 42-72873 who lost their lives on the night of 5 July 1944. Location : at the entrance to the municipal...

Mission Details

Description: BOMB TARGETS OF OPPORTUNITY

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1.7 T

CAMBRAI (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1.5 T

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 2 T

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 4 T

FRESNES (Primary)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3.5 T

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 5.5 T

NEVERS (Primary)

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Notes: This is a fighter-bomber mission against marshalling yards and other transportation targets. Claims include 1-0-0 on the ground.

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 7.3 T

Description: MARSHALLING YARDS

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 3.5 T

ROUEN (Primary)

Description: BRIDGE

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1 T

ST FLORENTIN (Primary)

Description: TRANSPORTATION TARGET

Mission Statistics

  • Tonnage Dropped: 1.5 T

Connections

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People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1574610 and 32206722 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 18098768
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 14132120 and O-688180
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 507th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 463rd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2045114, T-223051
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 32860380
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Roarin Bill
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron
A B-17G Flying Fortress (ET-B, serial number 42-31989) of the 336th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bomb Group that has crash-landed 1 April 1944. Official caption on image: "569(44). 4-1-44. Hon. Crash Landing Damage. B-17G, 42-31989. AM-FS..."
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spam Can : Black Magic : Shady Lady
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 336th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mirandy
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Wrinkled Belly Baby
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Raggedy Ann II, Star Spangled Hell
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 67th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham, 8th Air Force missions research database / Stan Bishop's 'Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces', the Combat Chronology of the US Army Air Forces and the work of Roger Freeman including the 'Mighty Eighth War Diary'.

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