9th Air Force
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41-31765
B-26 Marauder
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Close up of Martin Marauder B-26B 41-31765 ER-X "Fightin Cock" 450BS, 322BG, 9AF.
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The nose art of a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-31765) nicknamed "Fightin' Cock" of the 322nd Bomb Group. US Air Force photo.
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B-25 Marauder (ER-X, serial number 41-31765) nicknamed “Fightin’ Cock” of the 450th Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group.
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. This aircraft was written-off after crash-landing on 12th August 1944. It had received flak damage while over Flers, France and had its electrical system, generators and hydraulic systems shot out. The crew nursed it back to the base (Great Saling, Essex, USAAF St 485 [Renamed Andrews Field]) and got the gear cranked down after which the pilot ordered the enlisted men to bail out. While trying to land the plane skidded off the runway and into the control tower, killing both pilots. MACR 15747.
Crew:
2nd Lt. John R. Walker, Jr. - Pilot (O-814603) KIA
2nd Lt. Bruce Taylor - Co-Pilot (O-764829) KIA
S/Sgt. Ernest Pilot - Togglier (16108300) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. George E. Peterson - Engineer/Gunner (36650962) RTD on 8/25/44
Sgt. John B. Hill - Radio Operator/Gunner (16119103) EUS
Sgt. Marvin E. Vogt - Tail Gunner (37527425) RTD
Service
Units
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322nd Bomb Group
Group
The 322nd Bombardment Squadron (Medium) was activated on 19-Jun-1942 at MacDill Field, Florida with B-26B Marauder aircraft. In late September 1942 the unit moved to Drane Field, Florida. The Ground echelon sailed for the UK aboard the Queen Elizabeth... -
450th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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John Hill
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator/Gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged B-26 #41-31765, ordered to bail out over base. A/C crashed fatally, Evacuated to United States (EUS) 25-Aug-44. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME. -
George Peterson
Military | Sergeant | Engineer / gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged B-26 #41-31765, ordered to bail out over base. A/C crashed fatally, Returned to Duty (RTD) on 25-Aug-44. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME. -
Ernest Pilot
Military | Staff Sergeant | Bombardier | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged A/C B-26 41-31765, ordered to bail out over base. A/C crashed fatally, Returned to Duty (RTD) on 25-Aug-44. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME. -
Bruce Taylor
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged A/C, ordered enlisted men to bail out. While trying to land the plane, skidded off the runway and into the control tower. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15747. ... -
Marvin Vogt
Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged B-26 #41-31765, ordered to bail out over base. A/C crashed fatally, Returned to Duty (RTD) on 25-Aug-44. Awards: WWII Victory, EAME. -
John Walker
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bomber pilot | 322nd Bomb Group
Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. Returned to base in severely battle damaged A/C, ordered enlisted men to bail out. While trying to land the plane skidded off the runway and into the control tower. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 15747. ...
Places
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Andrews Field
Military site : airfield
The base was known as Great Saling when construction – by US Army engineers – began in 1942 but was renamed Andrews Field in honour of the memory of Gen. Frank M. Andrews, who was killed when the B-24 he was travelling in crash-landed in Iceland on 3...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Manufactured | Offutt AFB, NE, USA | 1943 – 12 August 1944 |
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Built at Martin. |
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| Delivered | Nebraska, USA | 1943 |
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Delivered to USAAF. |
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| Assigned | Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom | 1943 |
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Assigned to 450BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. |
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| Combat damaged | 61100 Flers, France | 12 August 1944 |
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Battle damaged. Hit by flak over target, Flers France. |
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| Crashed | Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom | 12 August 1944 |
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Fatal crash at base, flak damaged with failed hydraulics, departed runway and crashed into control tower killing both pilots. MACR 15747. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2017 19:30:23 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, nicknames, markings, description, events and place associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbmsn.asp?SN=41-31765&Submit6=Go |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 October 2014 09:47:28 | Superman | Changes to nicknames, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
MACR |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 October 2014 09:44:50 | Superman | Changes to markings and events |
| Sources | ||
MACR report |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:06 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 15747 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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