USAAF 44-67880 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 44-67880 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder

1944067880, 44-67880 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder Fate: Accident Unit: 387BG556BS Remarks: 387BG556BS (Chipping Ongar) - Tiger Tails Code:FW-H in accident Jan 2, 1945, Disposal: 02-Jan-45

(unnamed)
Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder
Sn: 44-67880
Squadron Code: FW-H

First Sortie	Last Sortie	Total
12 Dec 44	2 Jan 45	5

Crew Chief: T/Sgt. George Anthony
Asst. Crew Chief: Cpl. Clinton I. Dean*

This aircraft only flew five sorties. Its last was on January 2, 1945, when it was to be part of an attack on the railroad bridge at Bad Munster. During take-off, the aircraft hit the prop wash of the preceding B-26 seconds after being airborne, causing the pilot to lose control. The plane crashed off the end of the runway, in a turnip field. One crew member, S/Sgt. Robert A. Leipse, was killed. All of the rest of the crew was injured; the most serious was S/Sgt. Robert H. Pitt, who spent more than ten months in the hospital and underwent numerous operations. Anyone who went to the accident scene after the crash, or saw photos of the wreckage, was amazed that anyone survived. The onboard crew were:

Injured Injured Injured Injured Injured KIA

Pilot Copilot ROG EG AG AG/Togg

2nd Lt. 2nd Lt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt. S/Sgt.

Verne V. Thompson William R. Sherman Robert H. Pitt, II Henry L. Mayre Robert B. Roark Robert A. Leipse

O-699476 (no sqdn. record) 37623800 Unknown 16125205 36523886

Web reference: http://387bg.com/Aircraft/B-26%2044-67880.htm