735th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group, Old Buckenham, Norfolk.
From the American Air Museum, Duxford: Assigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Hamm in B-24 42-64490 'Cee Gee II' 22-Apr-44; intercepted by enemy aircraft over Channel, hit in port engine and wing (with wing fuel tank afire), with hydraulics and comm's out pilot and co-pilot stayed with A/C to allow crew to bale out. A/C crashed in marshland near Southwold, England. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4781
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Entered the service from West Virginia.
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B-24H Liberator #42-64490, nicknamed "Cee Gee II."
Returning from a bombing mission over Germany, the aircraft was set upon by enemy fighters over the English Channel and strafed by gunfire. A fuel tank exploded, hurling three crewmembers from the plane. With the intercom system damaged, neither pilot could determine if all the other members heard the bail-out call, and remained at the controls in an attempt to reach the English countryside, ultimately sacrificing themselves in this effort. 1Lt. Munsey and co-pilot 2Lt. Robert O Crall were both posthumously awarded Silver Stars for heroism. They remained at the controls until it was no longer possible to escape, and the bomber went out of control and crashed near Southwold, Suffolk, England.
Five crewmembers were Killed In Action, and five survived and returned to duty.
The crewmembers KIA:
1LT James S Munsey, Pilot
2LT Robert O Crall, Co-Pilot
735th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group, Old Buckenham, Norfolk.
From the American Air Museum, Duxford: Assigned to 735BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Hamm in B-24 42-64490 'Cee Gee II' 22-Apr-44; intercepted by enemy aircraft over Channel, hit in port engine and wing (with wing fuel tank afire), with hydraulics and comm's out pilot and co-pilot stayed with A/C to allow crew to bale out. A/C crashed in marshland near Southwold, England. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 4781
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Entered the service from West Virginia.
~
B-24H Liberator #42-64490, nicknamed "Cee Gee II."
Returning from a bombing mission over Germany, the aircraft was set upon by enemy fighters over the English Channel and strafed by gunfire. A fuel tank exploded, hurling three crewmembers from the plane. With the intercom system damaged, neither pilot could determine if all the other members heard the bail-out call, and remained at the controls in an attempt to reach the English countryside, ultimately sacrificing themselves in this effort. 1Lt. Munsey and co-pilot 2Lt. Robert O Crall were both posthumously awarded Silver Stars for heroism. They remained at the controls until it was no longer possible to escape, and the bomber went out of control and crashed near Southwold, Suffolk, England.
Five crewmembers were Killed In Action, and five survived and returned to duty.
The crewmembers KIA:
1LT James S Munsey, Pilot
2LT Robert O Crall, Co-Pilot
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