USAAF 42-95870 Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 42-95870 Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder

1942095870, 42-95870 Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder Fate: Shot down Unit: 344BG496BS Remarks: 344BG496BS Silver Streaks Code:N3-A named: Maxwell House good to the last drop, Disposal: 20-Apr-44

Photos: 42-95870 Martin B-26B-50-MA Marauder
42-95870 was the personal Marauder of Col. Jewell C. Maxwell. Lost on the 20 April 1944 mission to bomb the V-weapon site at Ferme-Notre-Dame, near Muncq, Pas-de-Calais, France. Hit by Flak, the right motor in flames, its crew managed to drop its bomb load before bailing out. All seven were made Prisoners of War (POW):
Pilot Jack. V. porter;
Co-Pilot Harvey A. Johnson;
Navigator Joseph A. Gould;
Bombardier John Guiher Jr;
Radio/Gunner Harold W. Thomas;
Engineer/Gunner Clarence R. Bidlack;
Tail Gunner Stuart D. Whitford.
Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 4103. Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Witty (fourth from the left with a map) gives a last minute briefing to Major Maxwell and his crew before they get in their aircraft, a 496th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (N3-A, serial number 42-95870) nicknamed "Maxwell House" in the background. Passed for publication 13 Apr 1944.

Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Maxwell House", Maj. Maxwell & Lt. Col Robert Witty (4th left with map). 344th BG, 496th BS. Stansted 1944.'

Printed caption on reverse: 'A U.S. Ninth Air Force Marauder Station, England. Associated Press Photo Shows:- With a stack of 1,000 lb. bombs in the foreground and their ship in the background, crew members of Major Maxwell's ship "Maxwell House" listen to last minute instructions from Lt. Col. Robert Witty (fourth from left with map) before getting aboard their 'plane. CAR 13. 12-4-44-EM.' Censor no: 315579. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].

IWM CATALOGUE RECORD
This contains information written on the back of the original print and some of it may be inaccurate.

Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Witty (fourth from the left with a map) gives a last minute briefing to Major Maxwell and his crew before they get in their aircraft, a 496th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group B-26 Marauder (N3-A, serial number 42-95870) nicknamed "Maxwell House" in the background. Passed for publication 13 Apr 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '"Maxwell House", Maj. Maxwell & Lt. Col Robert Witty (4th left with map). 344th BG, 496th BS. Stansted 1944.' Printed caption on reverse: 'A U.S. Ninth Air Force Marauder Station, England. Associated Press Photo Shows:- With a stack of 1,000 lb. bombs in the foreground and their ship in the background, crew members of Major Maxwell's ship "Maxwell House" listen to last minute instructions from Lt. Col. Robert Witty (fourth from left with map) before getting aboard their 'plane. CAR 13. 12-4-44-EM.' Censor no: 315579. On reverse: US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].