42-95987 Yo-Yo Champ

Lieutenant AJ Wood of the 344th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95987) nicknamed "Yo-Yo Champ". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Yo-Yo Champ"- AJ Wood. Yo-yos always come back and pilot Wood was short, chubby and red headed so "Chicken Little" was appropriate. Sept 1944.' media-395854.jpg FRE 7133 Lieutenant AJ Wood of the 344th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95987) nicknamed "Yo-Yo Champ". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Yo-Yo Champ"- AJ Wood. Yo-yos always come back and pilot Wood was short, chubby and red headed so "Chicken Little" was appropriate. Sept 1944.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 7133 - Lieutenant AJ Wood of the 344th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95987) nicknamed "Yo-Yo Champ". Image by Jack K...

B-26 Marauder serial number 42-95987 crashed on 24 April 1945, flying a mission from Dijon, France, where it was based with the 17th Bomb Group, to Schwabmunchen, Germany.



The six men in its crew were all killed:

Pilot: First Lieutenant Leigh Slates

Co-pilot: Flight Officer Howard E Menzer

Bombardier: Staff Sergeant Floyd G Phelps

Engineer Gunner: Staff Sergeant John J Ganhs

Radio Gunner: Staff Sergeant Robert W Tillman

Armorer Gunner: Staff Sergeant Lloyd S Gauthier

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 34th Bomb Squadron 17th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: O-824001
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Lieutenant AJ Wood of the 344th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95987) nicknamed "Yo-Yo Champ". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Yo-Yo Champ"- AJ Wood. Yo-yos always come back and pilot Wood was short, chubby and red headed so "Chicken Little" was appropriate. Sept 1944.'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

21000 Dijon, France 14 September 1944 With the 17th Bomb Group. Exact date not yet known

Crashed

Schwabmünchen, Germany 24 April 1945

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

MACR 14165

Date
ContributorTanks
Changes
Sources

AAM Photo

42-95987: Gallery (2 items)