William J McKee Jr

Military
media-26975.jpeg UPL 26975 Crew of B-24 Liberator Wacky Donald

D Rudell via 8th Air Force Historical Society

Object Number - UPL 26975 - Crew of B-24 Liberator Wacky Donald

Shot down by fighters and crashed near Hardenburg, Holland on a mission to Gotha, GR on 24 Feb 1944 in B-24H #42-7567 'Wacky Donald'. Prisoner of War (POW).







Earlier 29 December 1943 accident in B24#42-7550 which crashed near Alltebridge after an uncontrollable fire forced the crew to bale out. The pilot Donald Hansen did not have time to escape. A/C was ib a diversion flight from Tibenham. 1KNO 8 RTD



POW

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-681317
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 6243398
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-806440
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Gallant Lady
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Black Dog, Wacky Donald
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Michigan

Revisions

Date
ContributorDRudell
Changes
Sources

8th Air Force Historical Society (http://www.8thafhs.org)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2553, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol.  I, p. 443

William J McKee: Gallery (1 items)