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Colonel Jack E. Caldwell in B-26B The Arkansas Traveler, which was shot down on 25 February 1944. He was then assigned a B-26C, which he named Black Jack (his own personal nickname).
On 12 April 1944, while exiting the target (Dunkirk naval facilities), Colonel Caldwell's B-26C (tail number 2107581) took a direct flak hit in the left wing, inboard of the engine. The wing was blown off, and the ship spun into the harbor, killing seven of the nine crew members, including Caldwell. Two men were blown out of the plane, one of whom survived. Caldwell was commander of 387th BG from 8 Nov 1943 until 12 April 1944.
Service
Units served with
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Group
The 387th Bomb Group flew just under thirty missions with the Eighth Air Force before being transferred to the Ninth Air Force in October 1943. The Group remained at Chipping Ongar, Essex after being reassigned and continued to hit targets in France....
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Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
The air base was constructed by the 831st Engineer Battalion (Aviation) in late August 1942. The 387th Bomb Group were the only American group to be based there, flying B-26 Marauders in strategic missions over France, first for the Eighth and then for...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Killed in Action (KIA) |
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12 April 44 |
Buried |
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