43-6439 Helen of Troy 2nd

Assigned to 487FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 376FS, 361FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF. In midair collision with P-51B 43-12145 at Melbourne, England 12-Feb-45. Able to land, but aircraft was DBR. Written Off Feb-45.

Connections

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Units served with

People

William M Beecher

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 505th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14172955 / O-830387
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Cecil A Laxton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 361st Fighter Group 376th Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-679801
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Clarence Palmer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 487th Fighter Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Aerial photograph of Bodney airfield, looking south east, the barrack sites are in the top centre of the image, 8 June 1945. Photograph taken by No. 542 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/369. English Heritage (RAF Photography).

Bodney

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Royal Air Force Bodney

Aircraft

43-12145

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 339th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 503rd Fighter Squadron Headquarters Squadron (8th Air Force)

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Bottisham, Cambridge CB25, UK 4 May 1944 440504 P-51B5 43-6439 376FS 361FG 374 8 LAC 3 Laxton, Cecil A ENG Bottisham/Sta 374

Crashed

Melbourne, Derby DE73, UK 12 February 1945 450212 P-51B5 43-6439W 505FS 339FG 378 8 MAC 4 Beecher, William M ENG Melbourne

Manufactured

Inglewood, CA, USA Built at North American Aviation.

Delivered

California, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Bodney, Thetford IP26, UK Assigned to 487FS, 352FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Transferred

Bottisham, Cambridge CB25, UK Transferred to 376FS, 361FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Transferred

Fowlmere, Royston SG8, UK Transferred to 505FS, 339FG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=6439
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbasn.asp?SN=43-6439
http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html