42-95987 Yo-Yo Champ
media-395854.jpg
FRE 7133
Lieutenant AJ Wood of the 344th Bomb Group in the cockpit of his B-26 Marauder (serial number 42-95987) nicknamed "Yo-Yo Champ". Image by Jack K Havener, 344th Bomb Group.. Associated caption: '"Yo-Yo Champ"- AJ Wood. Yo-yos always come back and pilot Wood was short, chubby and red headed so "Chicken Little" was appropriate. Sept 1944.'
Roger Freeman Collection
IWM, Roger Freeman Collection
B-26 Marauder serial number 42-95987 crashed on 24 April 1945, flying a mission from Dijon, France, where it was based with the 17th Bomb Group, to Schwabmunchen, Germany.
The six men in its crew were all killed:
Pilot: First Lieutenant Leigh Slates
Co-pilot: Flight Officer Howard E Menzer
Bombardier: Staff Sergeant Floyd G Phelps
Engineer Gunner: Staff Sergeant John J Ganhs
Radio Gunner: Staff Sergeant Robert W Tillman
Armorer Gunner: Staff Sergeant Lloyd S Gauthier
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Twelfth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 34th Bomb Squadron 17th Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: O-824001
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 344th Bomb Group 497th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Stansted
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Assigned |
21000 Dijon, France | 14 September 1944 | With the 17th Bomb Group. Exact date not yet known |
Crashed |
Schwabmünchen, Germany | 24 April 1945 |