Born the son of
Joseph "Jose" A. Bachicha (inspector US Custons Patrol)
and
Rebecca (Abeyta) Bachicha
Attended Austin High School - El Paso, TX
Enlisted in the Army Airfoce 21 March 1942 in Lubbock, TX
He was sent to Grafton Underwood Base - England
and was a Bombardier in several B-17's (see flying list link below)
He was credited with 14 Combat Missions and 6 that were aborted.
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- 2nd LT. Joseph Franklin Lewis-Cumberland, MD
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT. Martin Paul Bachicha-El Paso, TX
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos-Kearney, NJ
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham-Carrollton, MS
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
6 Crew members from Lovell's Hovel were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Walter Francis Brookings
FAG#'s 106447011 -Memorial on family plot & 56642685- Buried: Normandy American Cemetery-France
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia.
He was captured by the Germans and was a POW;
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
*For the full military Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 3242:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
*For his flying record, go to:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=155
*There is a family tree with photos on Ancestry.com
Martin lived: 71years, 10 months, 14 days
Military Information: 1LT, US ARMY
Joseph "Jose" A. Bachicha (inspector US Custons Patrol)
and
Rebecca (Abeyta) Bachicha
Attended Austin High School - El Paso, TX
Enlisted in the Army Airfoce 21 March 1942 in Lubbock, TX
He was sent to Grafton Underwood Base - England
and was a Bombardier in several B-17's (see flying list link below)
He was credited with 14 Combat Missions and 6 that were aborted.
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- 2nd LT. Joseph Franklin Lewis-Cumberland, MD
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT. Martin Paul Bachicha-El Paso, TX
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos-Kearney, NJ
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham-Carrollton, MS
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
6 Crew members from Lovell's Hovel were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Walter Francis Brookings
FAG#'s 106447011 -Memorial on family plot & 56642685- Buried: Normandy American Cemetery-France
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia.
He was captured by the Germans and was a POW;
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
*For the full military Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 3242:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
*For his flying record, go to:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=155
*There is a family tree with photos on Ancestry.com
Martin lived: 71years, 10 months, 14 days
Military Information: 1LT, US ARMY
Born the son of
Joseph "Jose" A. Bachicha (inspector US Custons Patrol)
and
Rebecca (Abeyta) Bachicha
Attended Austin High School - El Paso, TX
Enlisted in the Army Airfoce 21 March 1942 in Lubbock, TX
He was sent to Grafton Underwood Base - England
and was a Bombardier in several B-17's (see flying list link below)
He was credited with 14 Combat Missions and 6 that were aborted.
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- 2nd LT. Joseph Franklin Lewis-Cumberland, MD
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT. Martin Paul Bachicha-El Paso, TX
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos-Kearney, NJ
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham-Carrollton, MS
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
6 Crew members from Lovell's Hovel were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Walter Francis Brookings
FAG#'s 106447011 -Memorial on family plot & 56642685- Buried: Normandy American Cemetery-France
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia.
He was captured by the Germans and was a POW;
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
*For the full military Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 3242:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
*For his flying record, go to:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=155
*There is a family tree with photos on Ancestry.com
Martin lived: 71years, 10 months, 14 days
Military Information: 1LT, US ARMY
Joseph "Jose" A. Bachicha (inspector US Custons Patrol)
and
Rebecca (Abeyta) Bachicha
Attended Austin High School - El Paso, TX
Enlisted in the Army Airfoce 21 March 1942 in Lubbock, TX
He was sent to Grafton Underwood Base - England
and was a Bombardier in several B-17's (see flying list link below)
He was credited with 14 Combat Missions and 6 that were aborted.
On 19March1944 (at about 4pm- at 21,000' ) his plane (Lovell's Hovel) was hit by Flak (near the radio room) after bombs were away; the plane began burning and filled with smoke.
Thanks to the skilled flying of the Pilot, James Lovell and Co-Pilot, Walter Brookings, two chutes were able to emerge (Kardos & Oldham), with one on fire (Oldham - who was severely burned);
20 seconds later, the plane exploded.
Two crew members where blown out of the plane. Lewis & Bachicha, thankfully had their chutes on.
ALL 4 crew were later captured by the Germans and were POW's.
Their names are:
--The two who were blown out:
1) Navigator- 2nd LT. Joseph Franklin Lewis-Cumberland, MD
2) Bombardier- 2nd LT. Martin Paul Bachicha-El Paso, TX
--The two who bailed out:
3) Tail Gunner- S/Sgt. Louis Julius Kardos-Kearney, NJ
4) Left Flex' Gunner- S/Sgt Jesse Zera Oldham-Carrollton, MS
Documented facts and observations by crew member, Bachicha, in the MACR link below.
The plane was seen spiraling down with flames pouring from all parts of aircraft;
Lovell's Hovel crashed near Wavrans-sur-Ternoise, it's in a very small village near a larger town called St Pol-sur-Ternoise, France.
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
6 Crew members from Lovell's Hovel were KIA.
Pilot-1st Lt.James MacNaughton Lovell
(FAG#140345676) Buried:Calumet, Michigan
Co-Pilot-2nd Lt. Walter Francis Brookings
FAG#'s 106447011 -Memorial on family plot & 56642685- Buried: Normandy American Cemetery-France
Radio Operator- S/Sgt.Minot Fred Deftos
(FAG#41836091) Buried:Missouri National Cem in St.Louis
Eng/Top Turret- T/Sgt.Calvin Oscar Lewis Fowlkes
(FAG# 41836132)Also buried at Missouri Nat'l Cem in St.Louis
Ball Turret- S/Sgt.James Hansel Johnson jr.
(FAG#25697667) Buried: Sulphur Springs, Texas
Flexible Gunner- S/Sgt.Doye Herman Blankenship
(FAG#53853961) Buried: Gladehill, Virginia.
He was captured by the Germans and was a POW;
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
*For the full military Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) 3242:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/MACRs/MACR3242.pdf
*For his flying record, go to:
http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=155
*There is a family tree with photos on Ancestry.com
Martin lived: 71years, 10 months, 14 days
Military Information: 1LT, US ARMY
