41-23786

B-24D 41-23786 was assigned to 44th Bomb Group, 68th Bomb Squadron at Shipdham. Shot down by German fighters 6-December-1942 on a mission to bomb the German airfield Drucat at Abbeville, France. 10KIA. First loss for 44th Bomb Group. MACR 2920.



P 1Lt. James D. Du Bard, Jr. (KIA); CP 2Lt Henry B. Kaitala (KIA);

N 2Lt Richard V. Somerville (KIA); B 2Lt George A. Crawford (KIA);

E/TT G Sgt Charles S. Dick (KIA); RO Sgt William C. Mears (KIA);

BTG Sgt Robert F. Lilley (KIA); WG SSgt Paul E. Beverly (KIA)

WG Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo (KIA); TG Sgt Donald M. Smith (KIA)

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18045226
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727320
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31033519
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-410225
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727999
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Places

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

English Channel 6 December 1942 Attacked by German fighters and crashed into the English Channel mid-way between Boulogne and Beachy Head.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 3-Dec-2014. Minor edit to description; added detail to FTR event per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 2920.

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 8-Nov-2014. Missing AIr Crew Report (MACR) 2620; "USAAF Combat Chronology" Jack McKillop.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 2920 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database