43-38316 Hank's Battle Wagon
Delivered Cheyenne 20/7/44; Kearney 28/7/44; Grenier 9/8/44; Assigned 860BS/493BG Debach 11/8/44; battle damaged Merseburg 2/11/44 with Joe Gualano, cp?, Stan Lucia, Arthur Etter, Ray Butler, Paul Backer, Bob Johnson, Fred Townsend, Travis Jones (8 Returned to Duty); Harry Thomas lwg (Killed in Action); force landed St Trond, Bel. Returned to the USA Bradley 7/7/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 9/7/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 9/12/45. HANK'S BOTTLE.
The name "Hank's Battle" is found in the personal diaries of 2 veteran's of the 493rd BG. S/Sgt Manley Abbott refers to "Hank's Battle Wagon" "Shunter F" (860 BS, RCL F) Whilst S/Sgt Beverly Berry refers to "Hank's Battle" (it is possible the full name had not yet been painted on the aircraft at the time) Both men flew the aircraft on combat missions.
It is possible that the aircraft was named in honour of S/Sgt Harry F Thomas, waist gunner, who was KIA whilst crewing the aircraft on 2nd November 1944 with the Lt Joseph Gualano crew.
Connections
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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: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36442016
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34720208
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35131036 / O-702400
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-690076
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 493rd Bomb Group 860th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33621656
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Assigned |
Debach UK | 11 August 1944 | Assigned to 860BS, 493BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Crashed |
Sint-Truiden, Belgium | 2 November 1944 | Mission to Merseberg, Germany. Severe flak and ME 262's attacked plane. Battle damaged. force landed St Trond, Belgium. 8 x RTD, 1 x KIA. 2-Nov-44. |