42-107747

Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF. 51 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin, crashed. 1 x POW, 5 x KIA. MACR 11663.



Crew: Pilot 1Lt Clayton S Abraham[OR], Co-Pilot 2Lt Verne H Bovie, Bomb/Nav S/Sgt Woodrow Wilson[MD], Radio T/Sgt Flloyd R Lemon[OH], Eng S/Sgt Erik Christiansen[CA], Arm S/Sgt Melvin E Murphy[PA].

Connections

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Units served with

An airman of the 391st Bomb Group wearing a service dress jacket and kilt. Written on slide casing: '391 BG.'

391st Bomb Group

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

People

Clayton Sanders Abraham

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19102402 / O-751078
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Verne H Bovie

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-715700
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Eric Christiansen

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39012577
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Floyd R Lemon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15017620
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio

Melvin E Murphy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 391st Bomb Group 573rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15242529
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Armourer Gunner

Places

Aerial photograph of Matching airfield looking south, the technical site is on the left, 19 July 1948. Photograph taken by No. 58 Squadron, sortie number RAF/58/62.English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Matching

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Matching Green

Missions

The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95865) nicknamed "Sky Hag" of the 391st Bomb Group.

757

  • Date: 23 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Bad Neuenahr-Ahrweiler, Germany 23 December 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) bombing mission to Ahrweiler, Germany. Shot down by Fw190's 3 miles East of Ahrweiler. Last seen dropping behind formation with both engines smoking, gear down, going into spin, crashed. 1 x POW, 5 x KIA. MACR 11663.

Manufactured

Offutt AFB, NE, USA Built at Martin.

Delivered

Nebraska, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Matching, Harlow CM17, UK Assigned to 573BS, 391BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmdate.asp?thedate=441223&Submi…
https://www.fold3.com/image/46705608
http://www.b26.com/page/marauder_missions_december_23_1944.htm

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 11663 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database