USAAF 44-67889 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 44-67889 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder

1944067889, 44-67889 Martin B-26G-15-MA Marauder Fate: Crashed Unit: 387BG558BS Remarks: 387BG558BS (Chipping Ongar) - Tiger Tails Code:KX-B named: Command Performance crashed while sightseeing May 8, 1945, Disposal: 08-May-45

Additional Info: Richard Kunne Holland
Crew of the B.26 Marauder Bomber, which crashed may 8th 1945, during a training flight near the little town of Mesch in the Limburg Province. The B.26 from the 387th Bomber Group – 558 Bomber squad was stationed at the Maastricht Aachen Airport, at that time called Y-44. The planes serial number was 44-67889. The entire crew of six were killed immediately. US Air force investigators arriving at the Crash - site found the bodies with flowers strewn on them, a gesture of the people of Mesch. All six of them were interred at The US Military Cemetery at Margraten. At present only Ralph A. Willett and Robert P. Sturm are still buried at Margraten Cemetery. Ralph W. Leighty, William W. Tierney, Wilbur S. Harding and Gavin J. Moffatt were re-interred in the USA late 1946 at their Family's wish.

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387th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 387th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 25 Nov 1942. Activated on 1 Dec 1942. Trained with B-26 aircraft. Moved to England in Jun 1943. Served with Eighth AF until assigned to Ninth in Oct 1943. Began combat in Aug 1943 and concentrated its attacks on airdromes during the first months of operations. Made numerous strikes on V-weapon sites in France in the winter of 1943-1944. Hit airfields at Leeuwarden and Venlo during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944, the intensive campaign against the German Air Force and aircraft industry. Helped to prepare for the invasion of Normandy by attacking coastal batteries and bridges in France during May 1944. Bombed along the invasion coast on 6 Jun 1944 and supported ground forces throughout the month by raiding railroads, bridges, road junctions, defended areas, and fuel dumps. Moved to the Continent in Jul 1944 and participated in attacks on the enemy at St Lo in the latter part of the month and on German forces at Brest during Aug and Sep. Extended operations into Germany by fall of 1944. Received a DUC for action during the Battle of the Bulge when the group hit strongly defended transportation and communications targets at Mayen and Prum. Supported the Allied drive into the Reich by attacking bridges, communications centers, marshalling yards, storage installations, and other objectives. Ended combat operations in Apr 1945. Returned to the US in Nov. Inactivated on 17 Nov 1945.

559th Bombardment Squadron 556th BS: 1942-1945.

559th Bombardment Squadron 557th BS: 1942-1945.

558th Bombardment Squadron 558th BS: 1942-1945.

559th Bombardment Squadron 559th BS: 1942-1945.

Squadrons. 556th: 1942-1945. 557th: 1942-1945. 558th: 1942-1945. 559th: 1942-1945.

Stations. MacDill Field, Fla, 1 Dec 1942; Drane Field, Fla, 12 Apr 1943; Godman Field, Ky, c. 11 May-10 Jun 1943; Chipping Ongar, England, 25 Jun 1943; Stony Cross, England, 18 Jul 1944; Maupertuis, France, 22 Aug 1944; Chateaudun, France, 18 Sep 1944; Clastres, France, 30 Oct 1944; Beek, Holland, 29 Apr 1945; Rosieres-en-Santerre, France, 24 May-c. Nov 1945; Camp Kilmer, NJ, 14-17 Nov 1945.

Commanders. Maj David S Blackwell, 20 Dec 1942; Col Carl R Storrie, c. 19 Jan 1943; Col Jack E Caldwell, 8 Nov 1943; Col Thomas M Seymour, 13 Apr 1944; Col Grover C Brown, c. 18 Jul 1944; Lt Col Richard R Stewart, 20 May 1945; Col Philip A Sykes, Jun 1945-unkn.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Europe; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Germany, 23 Dec 1944.

Insigne. None.

387th Bombardment Group Chronology