Roy Cosby Gehue

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-19058.png UPL 19058 The John O. Broten crew, with Co-Pilot Edward Tappan, standing, second from left, Harrington, Spring 1944. (Official USAAF photo)

Added photo crew

Object Number - UPL 19058 - The John O. Broten crew, with Co-Pilot Edward Tappan, standing, second from left, Harrington, Spring 1944. (Official USAAF photo)

Roy Gehue was living in Bear River, Canada, in 1935. He moved later to Sarasota, Florida. He enlisted in the Air Corps in January 1941 and was a Navigator in the 801st Bomb Group/ 36th Bomb Squadron in England. Killed in the loss of B-24D '"Star Spangled Hell", #42-72873. Took off from Harrington at 23:13hrs on 4 July 1944 on a secret Carpetbagger mission of weapons and supplies delivery to the French Underground in the Loir-et-Cher area, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 6990. After successful drop, shot down by ME110 over Orléans, France. A/c caught fire and crashed at 00:10hrs, 5 July, near Champgirault at Trancrainville (Eure and Loire). Co-Pilot Edward Tappan was the only survivor. Roy Gehue and 6 other members of the 8-man crew were killed in the mid-air explosion and they are commemorated on a plaque on a wall at the entrance to the Trancrainville cemetery. Roy Gehue’s name is also on the Bear River War Memorial monument, Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 36th Bomb Squadron (Radar Counter Measures).
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24D Liberator 'Carpetbagger' - extensively modified for specialised operations - taxiis on the perimeter track at Harrington airfield. Printed caption on reverse: 'A Carpetbagger B-24D taxiing on the perimeter at Harrington. Photo - "Red" Monaghan.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
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: 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: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 32860380
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 31331737
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • 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

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Maine, United States 2 July 1917

Enlisted

McDill Field, Avon Park, Florida, United States 13 January 1941 as a Private in the Air Corps

Died

near Trancrainville, Eure-et-Loir, France 5 July 1944 Killed In Action (KIA) in the crash of B-24 # 42-72873

Buried

Mount Hope Cemetery, Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada Initially buried at the Les Aubrais cemetery in Orléans; reinterred at the temporary US Military Cemetery in Solers near Melun (Seine-et-Marne), France. His remains were repatriated to North America
Sarasota County, Florida, United States

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:-
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / roster

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 6990
NARA WWII Enlistment records
www.801492.org
Research for Edward Tappan’s page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/ftappaned.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat Chronology, USAAF SN Website,

href="http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm">http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm>; Losses of the 8th AF, vol4 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Roy Cosby Gehue: Gallery (3 items)