42-7766 - Heavy Date
Added details. - Kickapoo
Object Number - UPL 54850 - B-24H - 42-7766, Heavy Date. Lost over Germany. Pilot Eldon Colby (POW). Lost over Germany. 30 Dec 1943. MACR 1974.
Pilot 1st Lt. Eldon Neil Colby flew the B-24H, 42-7766, Heavy Date, on 8 missions, including the one he was shot down on by ME-110's near Charleville on the France/German border, on a raid to Ludwigshafenon. CoPilot Lt. Roger Taylor was KIA on that mission. Navigator Lt. Darwin Rasmussen and Flight Engineer Leonard Grima evaded capture with the help of the French resistance and finally made it back to England and returned to duty (RTD). The rest of the crew became POW's, including Lt. Eldon Colby, who sat out the rest of the war at Stalagluft 1 in Barth, Germany. Released 1945. Dec 30, 1943.
Standing (L-R)
CoPilot - Roger Taylor - KIA
Navigator - Darwin Rasmussen - POW
Bombardier - Robert Hosier - POW
Pilot - Eldon Neil Colby - POW - REL - 1945
Kneeling (L-R)
Waist Gunner - Joe Bagdonis - POW
Top Turret/Engineer - Tom Grima - POW
Radio Operator - Richard Peterson - POW
Tail Gunner - Leonard Grima - RTS
Waist Gunner - Stan Vaughn - POW
Ball Turret Gunner - Robert Pipkin - POW
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Missions
Aircraft
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Belgium | 30 December 1943 |