Agay's B-24 Liberator, Var, France

Pilot : second lieutenant Robert V. Batz

Mission Date May 27, 1944, MACR 5413

Target Bombardment of Montpellier's airfield

Zone of crash Sea (-140ft), Agay's bay, Var, France

Plane Type B-24G-10-NT

Serial 42-78213 "Ophélia Bump"

Squadron 15th AF, 304th BW, 454th BG, 736th Squadron

Crew

Pilot S/Lt Robert V. Batz Killed

Copilot S/Lt George E. Erlewine Killed

Navigator S/Lt

Robert T. Bragg Killed

Bomber S/Lt James H. Logan

Radio Sgt Gene Vodopia

Waist gunner Sgt Little

Nose turret gunner Sgt Robert F. Royer Killed, USA

Dorsal turret gunner Sgt Ward O. Bowman Killed

Ball turret gunner Sgt Ramsey Killed

Tail turret gunner Sgt Peters

Saturdays May 27, 1944, the four bombers groups of the 304th Bomber-Wing 15th Air Force, took off from their bases in the south of Italy, to attack Montpellier/Fréjorgues's airfield.

Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.

Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.

4 men will succeed in jumping in parachute, and will be immediately made prisoners. The parachute of a fifth man, the nose turret gunner, will be put unfortunately in torch, while the five last members of crew will be killed, having been for various reasons, in the incapacity to evacuate the plane.

The sea will hide the bomber become now an underwater wreck until the end of august 1984, when during an exploration diving on the Agay's bay, were discovered, by 140 feet depth, its dislocated wrecks.

The team who discovered the wreks (Philippe Bres, Jean-Pierre Joncheray, its son Philippe, Bernard Mariller, Yves Moussou, Claude Pinaut and the author), was very marked by this formless mass which rested on the sandy bottom, and where also lay, an anti-Flak waistcoats, a parachute rolled up around a machine-gun having belonged to the turret of nose, shoes...

3/8/2024 - Working with Stories Behind the Stars - WWII Fallen (Cathy Stratz)

Update - Date of birth actually 12 Sep 1915 (vs 14th per handwritten draft card and NARA records under pre-commissioning service # 16060270). Also on draft card - spelling of middle name = Everet (vs Everett).