41-23806 - Bat Out Of Hell

media-56275.jpeg UPL 56275 The B-24D, named 'Bat Out Of Hell'. Crash landed at Talbenny, England - Pilot Roy B. Erwin. 3 Jan 43.

Best Web - B-24 - 41-23806 - Bat Out Of Hell

Object Number - UPL 56275 - The B-24D, named 'Bat Out Of Hell'. Crash landed at Talbenny, England - Pilot Roy B. Erwin. 3 Jan 43.

3 Jan 43 - Consolidated B-24D Liberator

Owner/Operator : 67th Bomb Squadron - 44th Bomb Group - 8th Air Force - USAAF

Registration: 41-23806 - Name : Bat Out Of Hell

MSN:

Fatalities: 3 - Occupants: 10

Other fatalities: 0

Aircraft damage: Written off. Damaged beyond repair. Recovered

Location: New House Farm, Dreenhill, Pembrokeshire - United Kingdom

Phase: En route

Nature: Military

Departure airport: RAF Shipdham - AAF Sta.115

Destination airport:

Narrative:

The B-23D aircraft, named, Bat Out Of Hell, crash landed at New House Farm, Dreenhill, U.K. due to fuel exhaustion. Three crew members died in the crash (KIA). The plane had been engaged in bombing the submarine pens in St. Nazaire, France. 3 Jan 43.

Crew:

1st Lt. R.B Erwin Jr. - KIA

2nd Lt. C.E Swanson - KIA

2nd Lt. T.G Deavanport - KIA

The surviving crew members:

2nd Lt. J.J Gavin - RTS

SSgt. H.V Simmons - RTS

SSgt. T.A Laskowski - RTS

Sgt. D.O. Perry - RTS

Sgt. L.O. McCarthy - RTS

Sgt. G.L. Kelse - RTS

Sgt. R.J. Reasoner - RTS





The B-24D, 41-23806, named, Bat Out Of Hell, was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, the 68th Bomb Squadron, in the 8th Air Force at Shipdham, UK. The aircraft was dispatched, 3 Jan 43, on a mission to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. The aircraft returned to England but ran out of fuel and crashed southwest of Haverfordwest, UK. Command Pilot 1st Lt. Roy B. Erwin, Jr. died of injuries received in the crash (KIA). 5 Jan 43. Copilot 2nd Lt. Clark E. Swanson was also killed in the crash (KIA), and the Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas G. Davenport died of injuries received in the crash (KIA). 8 Jan 43. 3 KIA. 7RTD. No MACR issued. Aircraft was declared a Category E loss, damaged beyond repair (DBR) and salvaged.



Pilot 1st Lt. Roy B. Erwin, Jr. - KIA

Copilot 2nd Lt. Clark E. Swanson - KIA Navigator 2nd Lt. Thomas G. Deavenport - KIA

Bombardier 2nd Lt. John J. Gavin - RTD

Engineer/Gunner SSgt. Hylan V. Simmons - RTD

Radio Operator SSgt. Thomas A. Laskowski - RTD

Gunner Sgt. Delbert O. Perry - RTD

Sgt. Lanville O. McCarty - RTD

Engineer/Gunner SSgt. George L. Kelsey - RTD

Top Turret Gunner Sgt. Robert J. Reasoner - RTD

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-443161
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-437436
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-727332
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18053366
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 458th Bomb Group 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06853902
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Places

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

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Damaged Beyond Repair (DBR)

Haverfordwest, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, UK 3 January 1943 Aircraft crashed south-west of Haverfordwest due to fuel shortage on return from bombing mission to St. Nazaire, France. Aircraft was too damaged to repair.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources

Lee Cunningham 15-Jan-2015. New entry created and all information per "Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE.

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