Coleman S Whitaker
Military ROLL OF HONOURBest Web - B-24 - 41-23816 - Black Jack
Lt. Coleman Whitaker volunteered for, and served as an RAF pilot for several months before Pearl Harbor. Later, he transferred back to the USAAF and took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the large mission to the Ploesti, Romania, oil refineries, flying the B-24D Liberator, 42-40071, Margaret Ann II. 1 Aug 43.
Lt. Whitaker was killed in action (KIA) on a mission to Weiner Neustadt, Germany, flying the B-24D, 41-23816, Black Jack. He was hit by flak in his B-24's bomb bay shortly after leaving target area. Lt. Whitaker peeled off, while quickly losing altitude as fire developed in his bomb bay. The plane broke apart and crashed in the target area. 5 KIA. 5 POW. Aircraft failed to return. FTR. 1 Oct 43. Pilot Coleman S. Whitaker. KIA. MACR 3312
Distinguished Flying Cross - Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters - Purple Heart - European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal - WWII Victory Medal
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-22549
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-665742
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885920
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Black Jack
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Black Jack
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Margaret Ann II
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Killed in action |
1 October 1943 | ||
Born |
Petersburg, Tennessee | ||
Buried |
Revisions
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23816 - Black Jack - 42-40071 - Margaret Ann II
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 3312, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy p. 135, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop and Hey p. 298 with picture of the plane; 8 Ball Tails, Vol. 13, No. 5, pg 20; 44th Bomb Group, The Flying Eightballs, pg 22