Built at the Glenn L Martin factory at Baltimore, Maryland as a B-26B-50-MA. Accepted by the Army Air Force on 13/11/43. Then flown by New Castle (2nd Ferry Group), Wilmington, Deleware (from 9/12/43), to Godman Field, Fort Knox, Kentucky (from 11/12/43), and assigned to the 391st BG. Flown overseas to the UK via the Southern Ferry Route (Listed as Carribean Wing), departing the USA on 8/1/44. The aircraft record card then lists, SOXO A (Europe - 8th AF) on 8/1/44, and SOXO R (Europe - 8th AF) from 30/1/44. Original group aircraft flown over from the USA by Lt. Col. George W Stalnaker. Shot down by flak on the 19/3/44 mission to attack enemy installations at Le Grismont, France. Flown by 1st Lt. Frank Bernzen Jnr, the aircraft was hit by flak on its first run in on target, damaging the tail and left engine which began to smoke. After most of the formation missed the aiming point, they went round for another run. It was on this run that the aircraft suffered another direct flak hit which severed the tail aft of the top turret, turning over on its back and going down with the bomb load still on board. The aircraft exploded and crashed at Palfart, north of Fontaine, 2.5 miles north of Heuchin, and about 7 miles north west of St. Pol. Although 3 chutes were spotted, there were no survivors. The boddies were buried in the military cemetary at Palfart. Engines, P&W R-2800-43, serials: FP-060157 (left), and, FP-060303 (right). The MACR lists this aircraft as 573rd BS. The final entries on the aircraft record card list, SOXO 9AF CON AFMSC on 20/3/44, and, SOXO 9AF CON MIA on 20/3/44. |