42-50449 Heavenly Hideaway
Object Number - UPL 27044 - B-24H 42-50449 J4-W 'Heavenly Hideaway' 753BS, 458BG, 8AF. Collided mid air with B-24H 41-29596 "Hell's Angel's" on return from a mission on 23-2-45...
Assigned to 753BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. Mid-Air collision with B-24H 41-29596 "Hell's Angel's" on return from mission to bomb Gera/Reichenbach Marshalling Yards 23-Feb-45. Crashed 10 miles north of Horsham St Faith with loss of 9 crew members. No MACR.
Crew: 2Lt Russell J Bechtel(P), 2Lt Joseph C Bryant(Co), 2Lt William E Torres(B), S/Sgt Everett E Russell(G), S/Sgt Louis R Dolce(G), S/Sgt Alex C Bail(G), S/Sgt John A Gast(G), T/Sgt Harold A Nelson (E), and Sgt Leonard E Wood (G). 9 x KIA.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 753rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Hell's Angels
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Mission to Dortmund |
Dortmund, Germany | 28 January 1945 | Mission to Dortmund. 28-Jan-45. Bechtel crew aboard. |
|
Crashed |
10 miles Nth of Horsham St Faith, Norwich NR10, UK | 23 February 1945 | Mid-Air collision with B-24H 41-29596 "Hell's Angel's" on return from mission to bomb Gera/Reichenbach Marshalling Yards 23-Feb-45. Crashed 10 miles north of Horsham St Faith with loss of 9 crew members. No MACR. |
|
Other Mission to Gera/Reichenbach |
Reichenbach im Vogtland, Germany | 23 February 1945 | Mission to Gera-Reichenbach. 23-Feb-45. Bechtel crew aboard. |
|
Manufactured |
Fort Worth, TX, USA | Built at Consolidated. | |
|
Delivered |
Texas, USA | Delivered to USAAF. | |
|
Assigned |
Horsham St Faith, Norwich NR10, UK | Assigned to 753BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. |
