USAAF 41-31771 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder

Photo: 41-31771 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder named '4 F' England 1944

USAAF serial number S/N: 41-31771 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder

1941031771, 41-31771 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder Fate: Shot Down Unit: 386BG554BS Remarks: 386BG554BS The Crusaders Code:RU-? shot down by flak over Germany Feb 16, 1945. MACR-12435. Disposal: 16-Feb-45

Photo L to R Kneeling L-R: Mike Kolar, Loren R. Dunn (?), Gilbert E. Esquidel. Standing L-R: Lt. Larry C Rodgers (?), Lt. Jack F Watson (?), Lt. Reuben "Bud" Jackson, bombardier-navigator.

Delivered by air from the Martin Baltimore plant to the Martin Omaha (Modification Centre), Nebraska, from 27/4/43. Then flown by New Castle (2nd Ferry Group), Wilmington, Deleware (from 11/5/43), to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia (from 16/5/43). Next flown by Nashville, Tennessee (ATC Ferry) from 25/5/43, to Presque Isle, Maine (from 1/6/43), from where it was flown to the UK via the Northern Ferry Route. Next listed as, UGLY A (Europe - 8th AF) from 5/6/43, and UGLY R (Europe - 8th AF) from 7/6/43. Flown by Lt. Mayfield, Capt. Green, and Major Tom Ramsey. Shot down by flak on the 16/2/45 mission to the Unna Ordnance depot, Germany. The aircraft flown by 1st Lt. Joseph S Benjamin was shot down about 8 miles SW of Coesfeld, and crashed near Darfeld, Germany. Of the seven man crew, only three managed to bail out and were captured. The aircraft flew 118 missions. According to Horst Weber, the aircraft crashed at Hof Hoppingen, near Darfeld, Germany. The final entry on the aircraft record card lists, CON MIA GLUE R on 16/2/45. Note, there is no mention on the aircraft record card that this aircraft was converted to a B-26B-20, and just refers to a B-26B-1 model.

shot down by flak on the February 16 1945 mission to bomb the Unna Ordnance Depot in Germany. MACR 12435
1stLt. Joseph S. Benjamin - pilot KIA
2ndLt. Henry F. McGrady - copilot KIA
2ndLt. Harold S. Tiller - bombardier/navigator KIA
S/Sgt. John Zitnyar,Jr. - radio operator/gunner POW
S/Sgt. James H. Woody,Jr. - engineer/gunner POW
S/Sgt. Rubin Kitchen - armorer/gunner POW
Maj. John W. Meldrum - passenger KIA
*Maj. Meldrum was on detached service from the 461st flak Battalion.