Arthur Bogle Cox Jr

Military

Assigned to 93BG/330BS, B-24 41-23678 "Big Eagle"/"Bathtub Bessie" as the Engineer/Top Turret Gunner. Aircraft was attacked by fighters near Dunkirk on the way to the assigned target Lille I/A, France. With direct hits to engine no. 4 and bomb bay area before crashing near Lille. T/Sgt Cox managed to bale out of the aircraft and landed near Douai. He was helped in his evasion of capture by many French citizens and members of the Pat O'Leary and Françoise Dissard evasion lines. His Escape & Evasion Report - E&E 47 - is on-line at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/5554687

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16034372 at enlistment, then O-442744
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32174174
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16038095
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-789241
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35125371
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Big Eagle / Bathtub Bessie
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

22 January 1919 Tennessee

Enlisted

24 September 1941 as a Private in the Air Corps at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia

Other

Baled out

9 October 1942 of B-17 41-23678 over Northern France

Other

Evaded capture

9 October 1942 - 27 June 1943 After landing in a tree near Douai, south of Lille (Nord, France), he was helped in his evasion of capture by many French citizens and members of the Pat O'Leary and Françoise Dissard evasion lines. Hidden in many places in France, he was guided to the South of the country and crossed over the Pyrénées mountains into Spain, which he reached on 28 April 1943. Later taken in charge by the British and American diplomatic corps, he was driven to Gibraltar, arriving there on 26 June. He left Gibraltar by air on the same day, arriving in London on 27 June 1943.

Died

29 June 1991 Tennessee
Fountain City, Knox County, Tennessee

Buried

Arthur Cox Jr rests at the Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville, Tennessee

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment Records
US Census 1930
Escape & Evasion Report E&E 47
SSDI Death Index

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Nov-2014. Re established BG association to correct entry from PURGE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 16-Nov-2014. Added E&E event.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 25-Oct-2014. National Archives Records Administration (NARA) Escape & Evasion Report # 47 http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-47.pdf

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hey p.37