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Martin B-26 Marauder (VT-W, serial number 42-107622 "Stars 'N Gripes") of the 323rd Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Squadron bombs the target during a mission on June 22, 1944 to the Armentierres Marshaling Yard.

Box II, Flight 1 on the mission (led by Maj. Alfred A. Blomberg-Pilot, 1st Lt. Al Allision-Navigator, 1st Lt. Walt Foster-Bombardier, Staff Sergeant T. S. Davies- Engineer/Gunner, Staff Sergeant J.N. Morgan-Radio/Gunner and Staff Sergeant F. J. S____ -Tail Gunner) in WT-G "Kactus Kid" (456the Bomb Squadron) scored what was presumed to be a direct hit on a German munitions train as it pulled into the railyard. The resulting explosion created a plume of smoke that reached approximately 12,000 feet.

Thirty-six Marauders attacked the target, 33 of which were able to drop 16 x 250 pound general purpose bombs each on the primary target. Three aircraft were unable to attack due to battle damage from intense, heavy and accurate flak encountered over the target area. Bombing was from 11,400 feet by Flights of six aircraft. Twenty-three of the 36 attacking Marauders sustained Class A battle damage. Three Marauders were so badly damaged that they were forced to make emergency and/or crash landings at an emergency airfield away from their base at Earls Colne Airfield, Essex County, England. The mission was run late in the day, and it was night when the crews landed in England.

IWM catalogue record

This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.

A B-24 Marauder (VT-W, serial number 42-107622) of the 323rd Bomb Group bombs a target during a mission.

Connections

Units

  • 323rd Bomb Group

    323rd Bomb Group

    Group
    The 323rd Bombardment Group operated with B-26 Marauders, American medium bombers. They were the first Eighth Air Force Group to fly a medium level bombing mission with this aircraft on 16 July 1943. After flying a total of 33 missions with the Eighth,...

  • 453rd Bomb Squadron

    453rd Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 456th Bomb Squadron

    456th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron
    Selected Bibliography of Publications: ...

People

  • Walter Foster

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Bombardier
    Lt. Walt Foster was a navigator and bombardier from Upstate New York who served with the 456th BS during the Second World War. His first combat mission was flown from Earls Colne Airfield on February 3, 1944 to the Ruisseville "No Balls” secret weapon...

Aircraft

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Collection name
Roger Freeman Collection
Object number
FRE 6404

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
10 May 2016 23:52:21 JMF Changes to person associations
Sources

JMF
Date Contributor Update
20 March 2016 05:12:39 JMF Changes to unit associations
Sources

JMF
Date Contributor Update
19 March 2016 21:28:55 JMF Changes to caption
Sources

JMF
Date Contributor Update
19 March 2016 21:26:28 JMF Changes to caption
Sources

JMF
Date Contributor Update
19 March 2016 21:18:25 JMF Changes to caption
Sources

This entry has been updated with available records from the 323rd Bom Group, including source materials.
Date Contributor Update
02 February 2015 10:00:01 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

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