John Gavin

Military

Joined Sqd 8/3/42. ETO/Queen Mary 9/5/42. Injured 1/3/43 (St. Nazaire). Serious injury in crash. Returned to USA Hospital. Pilot: Erwin. January 3, 1943 B-24 #4123806 'Bat Out of Hell' crashed south-west of Haverfordwest returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash.



On 3 Jan 1943 in B-24D 41-23806 "Bat out of Hell" while serving as Bombardier the aircraft made a crash-landing near Heverfordwest when it ran out of fuel upon return from a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at Sr. Nazaire, France. He was hospitalized and returned to the US for medical discharge. The pilot died of his injuries on 5-Jan-43; the co-pilot was killed in the crash; and the Navigator died of his injuries on 8-Jan-43.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
B-24 Liberators of the 44th Bomb Group line up for takeoff at Shipdham in 1943. The 'Flying Eight-Ball' emblem of the 68th Bomb Squadron is visible on the nose of the leading aircraft. Image stamped with field press censor, 1943. Press Agency photograph- original printed caption has been removed.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Bat Out Of Hell
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Aircraft crash site
  • Known as: Haverfordwest

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Brought together information from duplicate record, to include information from: Lee Cunningham 5-Feb-2015. All additions, changes etc. based on "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A, Hey MBE. Made connections to Place, Aircraft and Mission within existing website data, http://8thairforce.com/44thbg/search/perlastname.asp

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Webb Todd, Losses of the 8th and 9th Air Forces Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 61, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Lundy p. 39, The 44th BG in WWII by MacKay and Adams p.27