George Napier Spaven Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-13290.jpeg UPL 13290 George N Spaven Jr.

Object Number - UPL 13290 - George N Spaven Jr.

Crashed while attempting to land at Warton (Neaton) upon returning from a combat mission in B-24 41-28729 on 8 March 1944. Returned to duty (RTD). George Spaven was Pilot of 41-29273 'Flak Magnet' on the 22 April 1944 mission. Hit by flak at approximately 19:38 hours SW of Hamm, Germany, the Liberator's #2 engine caught fire and A/C fell out of formation. Four chutes were seen, though bale out had not been called. A/C then was brought under control, regained altitude and re-joined formation. After an undetermined period of time, A/C was observed to leave formation and head west, still under control. Tailed and shot down by FW190 'Red 23' of Major Heinz Bär of II/JG1. Pilot Lt George Spaven Jr was hit by bullets in the final attack by Heinz Bar and held the plane steady to allow all crew members to bale out. George Spaven was killed in the crash, near Hoetmar, Germany. Killed In Action (KIA).



Awards: AM (OLC), PH.

Connections

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

Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37223225
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36721017
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39277261
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13131261
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-810990
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

The shark mouth nose of a B-24 Liberator nicknamed "Flak Magnet" of the 458th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '458th B.G.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Flak Magnet
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29155) nicknamed "Picadilly Commando" of the 446th Bomb Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: '446BG B/24 leaving Ruhr on its way home 22 April 1944.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '22/4/44, 21,000 Ft. Hamm, smoke screen in distance.'
  • Date: 22 April 1944

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Richmond, VA 2 May 1941 Richmond, Virginia

Died

22 April 1944 Killed in the crash of B-24H 41-29273 near Hoetmar, Germany. Killed In Action (KIA)

Buried

Hoetmar, Germany 23 April 1944 in the village cemetery of Hoetmar, Warendorf District, Germany

Born

North Carolina Son of George Napier Sr and Amanda Spaven.
Front Royal, Warren County, VA

Buried

Netherlands American Cemetery George Spaven’s remains were brought to The Netherlands after the war. He rests at the Margraten Cemetery, Plot D, Row 12, Grave 12

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56304124/george-n-spaven

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 4180
WWII Enlistment records
Downed Allied Aircraft Kampfflugzeug Unterlagen (KU) Reports KU 1487 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/139542878
ABMC website

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 4180

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in sources from duplicate record:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4180, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces & Page 282 of the book LIBERATORS OVER NORWICH by Mackay, Bailry & Scorza, 2010,

href="http://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htmD790G4582010">http://www.458bg.com/crew33spaven.htmD790G4582010>

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 4180 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

George Napier Spaven: Gallery (1 items)