USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell KIA
Hometown: Kentucky
Squadron: 558th 387th Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson KIA
MACR 471
Target: German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France.
Mission Date: 31-Aug-43
Serial Number: #41-31653
Aircraft Model B-26B
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "King Bee"
Location: Lille/Vendeville, France.
Cause: AAA fire 5KIA 1POW
The 387th Bomb Group was stationed at Willinghale,, England where it commenced bombing operations against enemy facilities in Europe. The initial targets of the Marauders were Luftwaffe airfields in an attempt by 8th.AAF to reduce the effective numbers of fighters available to react to bomber missions. The Group flew its first combat mission on August 15,1943 to St Omer/Fort Rouge airfield in France. For its pains the group had 18 of its 36 B26's damaged by enemy flak.
The next day the Group put 31 B26's over Bernay St Martin airfield, France on this occasion suffering only two planes damaged. On the 17th 36 ships were dispatched to bomb Poix/Nord airfield but the mission was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Two days later the Group again flew to Poix/Nord airfield this time hitting the target with 350 x 300lb general-purpose bombs. This mission only incurred one damaged B26.
The Group then rested until August 25 when a mission was flown to Rouen, France. With two planes damaged over the target. August 31st was to be a day of shock and sorrow for the Group on the mission to Lille/Vendeville airfield. Flak over the target knocked down the Groups first B26.A direct hit cut "King Bee" into two pieces. there are photographs showing the two halves falling over the target.
"King Bee" Crew
1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Louis C. Stevenson Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Earl T. Miller Navigator/Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell Engineer
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harry C Seth Jr. Gunner POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell KIA
Hometown: Kentucky
Squadron: 558th 387th Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson KIA
MACR 471
Target: German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France.
Mission Date: 31-Aug-43
Serial Number: #41-31653
Aircraft Model B-26B
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "King Bee"
Location: Lille/Vendeville, France.
Cause: AAA fire 5KIA 1POW
The 387th Bomb Group was stationed at Willinghale,, England where it commenced bombing operations against enemy facilities in Europe. The initial targets of the Marauders were Luftwaffe airfields in an attempt by 8th.AAF to reduce the effective numbers of fighters available to react to bomber missions. The Group flew its first combat mission on August 15,1943 to St Omer/Fort Rouge airfield in France. For its pains the group had 18 of its 36 B26's damaged by enemy flak.
The next day the Group put 31 B26's over Bernay St Martin airfield, France on this occasion suffering only two planes damaged. On the 17th 36 ships were dispatched to bomb Poix/Nord airfield but the mission was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Two days later the Group again flew to Poix/Nord airfield this time hitting the target with 350 x 300lb general-purpose bombs. This mission only incurred one damaged B26.
The Group then rested until August 25 when a mission was flown to Rouen, France. With two planes damaged over the target. August 31st was to be a day of shock and sorrow for the Group on the mission to Lille/Vendeville airfield. Flak over the target knocked down the Groups first B26.A direct hit cut "King Bee" into two pieces. there are photographs showing the two halves falling over the target.
"King Bee" Crew
1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Louis C. Stevenson Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Earl T. Miller Navigator/Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell Engineer
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harry C Seth Jr. Gunner POW
USAAF WORLD WAR II
Engineer S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell KIA
Hometown: Kentucky
Squadron: 558th 387th Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson KIA
MACR 471
Target: German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France.
Mission Date: 31-Aug-43
Serial Number: #41-31653
Aircraft Model B-26B
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "King Bee"
Location: Lille/Vendeville, France.
Cause: AAA fire 5KIA 1POW
The 387th Bomb Group was stationed at Willinghale,, England where it commenced bombing operations against enemy facilities in Europe. The initial targets of the Marauders were Luftwaffe airfields in an attempt by 8th.AAF to reduce the effective numbers of fighters available to react to bomber missions. The Group flew its first combat mission on August 15,1943 to St Omer/Fort Rouge airfield in France. For its pains the group had 18 of its 36 B26's damaged by enemy flak.
The next day the Group put 31 B26's over Bernay St Martin airfield, France on this occasion suffering only two planes damaged. On the 17th 36 ships were dispatched to bomb Poix/Nord airfield but the mission was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Two days later the Group again flew to Poix/Nord airfield this time hitting the target with 350 x 300lb general-purpose bombs. This mission only incurred one damaged B26.
The Group then rested until August 25 when a mission was flown to Rouen, France. With two planes damaged over the target. August 31st was to be a day of shock and sorrow for the Group on the mission to Lille/Vendeville airfield. Flak over the target knocked down the Groups first B26.A direct hit cut "King Bee" into two pieces. there are photographs showing the two halves falling over the target.
"King Bee" Crew
1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Louis C. Stevenson Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Earl T. Miller Navigator/Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell Engineer
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harry C Seth Jr. Gunner POW
Engineer S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell KIA
Hometown: Kentucky
Squadron: 558th 387th Bomb Group
Service#
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson KIA
MACR 471
Target: German airfield at Lille/Vendeville, France.
Mission Date: 31-Aug-43
Serial Number: #41-31653
Aircraft Model B-26B
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: "King Bee"
Location: Lille/Vendeville, France.
Cause: AAA fire 5KIA 1POW
The 387th Bomb Group was stationed at Willinghale,, England where it commenced bombing operations against enemy facilities in Europe. The initial targets of the Marauders were Luftwaffe airfields in an attempt by 8th.AAF to reduce the effective numbers of fighters available to react to bomber missions. The Group flew its first combat mission on August 15,1943 to St Omer/Fort Rouge airfield in France. For its pains the group had 18 of its 36 B26's damaged by enemy flak.
The next day the Group put 31 B26's over Bernay St Martin airfield, France on this occasion suffering only two planes damaged. On the 17th 36 ships were dispatched to bomb Poix/Nord airfield but the mission was aborted due to adverse weather conditions. Two days later the Group again flew to Poix/Nord airfield this time hitting the target with 350 x 300lb general-purpose bombs. This mission only incurred one damaged B26.
The Group then rested until August 25 when a mission was flown to Rouen, France. With two planes damaged over the target. August 31st was to be a day of shock and sorrow for the Group on the mission to Lille/Vendeville airfield. Flak over the target knocked down the Groups first B26.A direct hit cut "King Bee" into two pieces. there are photographs showing the two halves falling over the target.
"King Bee" Crew
1st/Lt. Ernest L. Anderson Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Louis C. Stevenson Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. Earl T. Miller Navigator/Bombardier KIA
S/Sgt. Robert L. Abell Engineer
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
T/Sgt. William B. Powers Jr. Radio/Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harry C Seth Jr. Gunner POW
Inscription
KENTUCKY
STAFF SGT 558 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
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