USAAF 44-68071 Martin B-26G-20-MA Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 44-68071 Martin B-26G-20-MA Marauder

1944068071, 44-68071 Martin B-26G-20-MA Marauder Fate: Unit: 387BG556BS Remarks: 387BG556BS (Chipping Ongar) - Tiger Tails Code:FW-V, Disposal:

(unnamed)
Martin B-26G-20-MA Marauder
Sn: 44-68071
Squadron Code: FW-V

First Sortie	Last Sortie	Total
5 Mar 45	19 Apr 45	24

Crew Chief: S/Sgt. Bernard F. Hellige
Asst. Crew Chief: Cpl. George E. Allard

I was radioman on Captain Jim Neff's crew during the mission to Magdeburg, Germany. This was our crew's last combat mission, and my 42nd one since we joined the Squadron in mid August of 1944. It was also one of the longest missions flown by the Group. On this mission Captain Neff led the II-Box of the Group's formation-the last of eleven bombing groups of the IX Bomb. Division to support the 30th Inf. Div. and the 2nd Armored Division's attack on the defended city. Our II-Box's TOT was 1440-1445; the ground forces attacked within five minutes. The city on the Elbe River fell the following day to the Ninth Army units.

The last sorties of #071/FW-V on April 19 were also the last combat missions flown by the 387thBG during WWII. Two outstanding lead crews were aboard #071 that day.

– William J. Thompson, Jr., 556th Bomb. Squadron, B-26 Marauder Reference and Operations Guide, p. 68.

Web reference: http://387bg.com/Aircraft/B-26%2044-68071.htm