Howard F Gotts

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Object Number - UPL 60252 - SGT Howard F Gotts, in US Army Air Corps uniform

Killed in Action on 1st August 1943 on Ploesti raid while TDY to 9th AF in B-24 'Wing Dinger' 41-24015.

From fag Contributor (48612389)

Suggested edit: Airman Accounted For From World War II (Gotts, H.)

Release No: 19-104 June 26, 2019

Army Air Forces Sgt. Howard F. Gotts, killed during World War II, was accounted for on June 24, 2019.

(Official DoD release will be updated following Primary Next of Kin briefing.)



In August 1943, Gotts was a radio operator assigned to the 66th Bombardment Squadron, 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy,) known as the Flying 8-Balls. On Aug. 1, 1943, the B-24D aircraft on which Gotts served, crashed during the largest bombing mission, Operation Tidal Wave, against the oil fields and refineries at Ploiesti, north of Bucharest, Romania. The Romanian government announced they had recovered and buried 216 Americans killed in the bombing raid, but could only identify 27 of the men at the time of the recovery. The remaining casualties were said to have been buried as Unknowns in the Hero Section of the Civilian and Military Cemetery of Bolovan, Ploiesti, Prahova, Romania.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wing Dinger
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stanley, New York 23 February 1920 - 23 February 1920

Other

Killed in action

1 August 1943

Revisions

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Changes
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ContributorAAM
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Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2410

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