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Péronne

Military site : airfield

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Detailed history

474th Fighter Group took over from JG26.

English Heritage's record description

Not yet known

Service

Units

People

  • Francis Brodley

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

  • William Byers

    Military | Captain | Fighter Pilot 1056 twin engine | 474th Fighter Group
    Bend, Oregon 430th FS 474th FG P-38J/P-38L 2 kills 49th FBW F-84E Korean War Brother Jim Byers also flew in 430th FS shared same P-38s.

  • Robert Curran

    Military | Flight Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. 5 x missions. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in...

  • Henry Darling

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Fighter pilot | 474th Fighter Group
    Assigned to HQ Sqn, 474FG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) sweep to Dusseldorf in P-38 44-23573 shot down in melee with Fw190's Koln, Germany 13-Oct-44. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 9540. Awards: AM (15 OLC), POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Andrew Essman

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Airplane Crew Chief MOS 059 | 397th Bomb Group
    Technical Sergeant Andrew W. Essman was the dedicated crew chief of Aircraft B-26B-55-MA 42-96191/9FN nicknamed “The Milk Run Special.” ...

  • Elmer Freeman

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 596BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) R/R Oissel. Hit by flak prior to reaching the target. It was last seen going down with two engines smoking, but apparently under control near Aboucourt, France. 8-May-44 Evaded capture, via a...

  • Charles Heckel

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Fighter Pilot | 474th Fighter Group
    Col Heckel always knew he was going to fly. After enlisting at age 18, he was sent to 9thAF in France, Sept 1944. Flying P-38's for the 474thFG for about 6 weeks, he had a mid-air collision with another P-38 after downing a BF 109 during a very large...

  • Edward Moore

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

  • William Pierson

    Military | Sergeant | Gunner | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

  • John Potschner

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 397th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Departed base Perrone (A-72) on mission to Germany, climbing through 10/10 cloud layer departed formation. Crashed 3 km SW Wassigny, partial bomb load detonation destroyed A/C and crew. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR...

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Aircraft

  • 42-96143

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 596BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) R/R Oissel. Hit by flak prior to reaching the target. It was last seen going down with two engines smoking, but apparently under control near Aboucourt, France. 8-May-44 MACR 4429. ...

  • 43-34221 "Li'l Jan"

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 598BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF. 14 x combat missions flown. From A-72, Peronne airfield, Failed to Return (FTR) mission to bomb Eller railroad bridge hit by fighters, rolled onto its back, split into two crashed near Auderath, Germany. 23-Dec-44....

  • 42-96181 "Draggin' Lady"

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 599BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF.

  • 42-96123 'Baby Butch'

    B-26 Marauder
    Assigned to 597BS, 397BG, 9AF USAAF.

Number
A-72
Known as
Peronne
Construction date
Not yet known
USAAF from date
12 September 1944
USAAF to date
Not yet known
Closure date
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
07 September 2019 18:42:12 Alain Bodel Changes to name, known as and history
Sources

The 428th Fighter Squadron
Date Contributor Update
07 September 2019 18:36:02 Alain Bodel Changes to usaaf from date
Sources

Previously Luftwaffe JG26 Airfield
Date Contributor Update
01 February 2017 15:44:03 general ira snapsorter Created entry with name, number, latitude and longitude
Sources

Place added with details from:
- "Battle Colors Volume III - Insignia and Tactical Markings of the Ninth Air Force in World War Two' by Robert A. Watkins;
- http://www.ixengineercommand.com/airfields/physical.php

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