Posted By Edouard on November 01, 2005 at 10:24:45:
In Reply to: B.24 serial 42-50774(389BG) posted by Jean Paul Favrais on October 31, 2005 at 15:55:34:
Hello Jean-Paul,
According to various sources (Roger Freeman's "The Mighty Eighth," Martin Borman's "Four Miles High", etc) the target that day was a pocket of German resistance - some estimates put the force at 122,000 men - holding out in defense of the Port of Bordeaux and manning AA gun batteries in the Royan area at Pointe de Grave. Apparently, the two aircraft (42-50774 and 42-51233), along with two others of the 389th BG, were hit by fragmentation bombs dropped from above by 3rd Air Division B-17s that were on their second run over the target. See also http://home.comcast.net/~skyscorpions/chrono8.htm
42-50774 was "Standby" of 389BG/567th Squadron, piloted by 2nd Lt William N. ANSEL (KIA)- MACR # 14173 (3 KIA 2 POW 2 evaded 2 returned.)
42-51233 was "The Bigast Bird", also of 567BS, piloted by Lt Edward W. Bush (KIA) - MACR 13906 (8 KIA 2 POW.)
The two other B-24s of 389th BG crash-landed safely in France.
Best regards from Brussels.