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B-26 Marauder
B-26C-15-MA 41-34970 was assigned to the 386BG/553BS at Boxted. On 8-Sep-43 the aircraft was part of a formation of 72 B-26s that had been despatched to bomb the German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France. The aircraft received extensive damage from anti-aircraft fire and was ditched in the sea off Goodwin Sands. All 5 crewmen were rescued by Air-Sea Rescue (ASR), the first ASR rescue of a B-26 crew, but the Engineer/Gunner SSGT John H. Park perished in the sea. Missing Air Crew Report 164 was issued to document the loss, but a copy of the MACR was not available from Fold3.com. Crew list from Bishop & Hey. 1KIA 4RTD (rescued by ASR)
P 2LT Romney J. Spencer (RTD); CP Not carried (RTD)
B J.H. Bowen (RTD); RO Harold Hadley
E SSGT John H. Park (KIA); TG Aubrey Ruess (RTD)
Group
The 386th Bomb Group flew B-26 Marauders for the Eighth and Ninth Air Forces. Whilst with the Eighth, the Group developed the formation release procedure for the B-26 on missions that targeted aerodromes, marshalling yards and V-weapon sites along the...
Squadron
Military | Bombardier | 386th Bomb Group
On 8-Sep-43 in B-26C-15MA 41-34970 'Margie' [RG:L] 386BG/552BS while serving as Bombardier/Navigator the aircraft was ditched in sea of Goodwin Sands after sustaining damage from AA fire over the target of the German airfield at Lille/Vanderville,...
Military | Radio Operator | 386th Bomb Group
On 8-Sep-43 in B-26C-15MA 41-34970 'Margie', [RG:L], 386BG/553BS while serving as Radio Operator the aircraft was ditched in sea of Goodwin Sands after having sustained dmage from AA fire over the German airfield at Lille/Vanderville, France 5 crew...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer/Gunner | 386th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8-Sep-43 in B-26C-15MA 41-34970 'Margie', [RG:L], 386BG/552BS while serving as Engineer/Gunner. The aircraft was ditched in sea of Goodwin Sands, UK after sustaining battle damage from AA fire over the target of the German...
Military | Tail Gunner | 386th Bomb Group
On 8-Sep-43 in B-26C-15MA 41-34970 'Margie', [RG:L], 386BG/552BS while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft was ditched into the sea off of Goodwin Sands, UK after sustaining battle damage from AA fire over the target of the German airfield at Lille...
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 386th Bomb Group
On 8-Sep-43 in B-26C-15-MA 41-34970 'Margie' [RG:L] 386BG/552BS while serving as Pilot, the aircraft was ditched in sea off of Goodwin Sands as a result of battle damage sustained from AA fire over the German airfielt Lille/Vanderville, France. 5 crew...
8 September 1943
72 B-26s from: 387BG (18); 322BG (18); 386BG (18); 323BG (18) are despatched to bomb the coastal defenses in the Boulogne are of France. 68 are effective on hitting their targets. There are no losses or claims.
Military site : airfield
Boxted was built for heavy bombers and became operational from May 1943. In the few months B-26 Marauders of the 386th Bomb Group were stationed there, there were two night attacks by the Luftwaffe. On 17 August 1943, one man was killed when bombs...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Goodwin Sands, United Kingdom | 8 September 1943 |
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Sustained damage from AA fire overt Lille, France and was ditched into the English Channel off Goodwin Sands, UK |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 03 June 2015 18:57:36 | Lee8thbuff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Lee Cunningham 3-Jun-2015. Added NEW entry per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces", Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE. |
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