USAAF Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder

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

1941031686, 41-31686 Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder Fate: Shot Down Unit: 387BG556BS

Remarks: 387BG556BS (Chipping Ongar) - Tiger Tails Code:FW-B named: Tabasco Shot down by Flak near Worms, Germany on 18 March 1945. This mission began as a pathfinder mission, but the solid overcast ended at the I. P. , giving way to a clear sky. As the target could now be bombed visually, the individual flights circled around to make the visual bomb runs. The flak was intense and Tabasco was Shot down during this circling maneuver over the I. P. No parachutes were sighted. Completed 166, Disposal: 18-Mar-45

Tabasco
Martin B-26B-20-MA Marauder
Sn: 41-31686
Squadron Code: FW-B

First Sortie	Last Sortie	Total
24 Aug 43	18 Mar 45	166

Crew Chief: T/Sgt. Henry A. Lis
Asst. Crew Chief: Sgt. Frank E. Pridgen

Tabasco was one of the original cadre of B-26s that formed the 556th Bomb. Squadron. The crew to which the aircraft was originally assigned and that flew the aircraft from the United States to England. That crew was:

Pilot CP B/N EG ROG AG

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

Mansel R. Campbell Burton J. Anderson James P. Spurlock Edward V. Burd Burl W. Thompson Harley W. Altizer

That crew formed the name from the first letters of their last names plus an "O" for "others," meaning the ground crew. Flight Chief M/Sgt. Edward J. Bearden accompanied the aircraft on its trip to England.

Jim Delong took the picture of Tabasco shown below while it was flying on his left wing. "It is one of the few good pictures I took with a cheap, little plastic camera. Using Manny Campbell's little developing kit and under a blanket for a dark room, I developed the negative. Manny lived just across the room from me in Hut #14 during our entire stay at station 162. In the photo the name does not show up well, but yet you can see Campbell and Burton Anderson in the cockpit and of course the little "Varga Girl" on the vertical stabilizer-also the last two letters of its number, 41-3168." Tabasco's final combat sortie was on March 18, 1945 from Clastres in an attack on a road junction in support of General Patch's Seventh U.S. Army's attempt to cross the Rhine River in the vicinity of Worms-the historical German town on its west bank, known for the Diet of Worms in the 16th century and the founding of the Lutheran religion. The mission began as a Pathfinder mission, but the solid overcast ended sharply and unexpectedly at the I.P. in favor of a clear sky, allowing the formation to bomb visually. The individual flights circled to form in-trail to make their visual bomb runs. Enemy flak was intense and Lt. Magowan's plane was shot down during this circling maneuver over the I.P. No parachutes were observed. Aboard Tabasco were the following airmen:

KIA KIA KIA KIA KIA KIA

Pilot CP Tog. EG ROG AG

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

George G. Magowan Joseph M. Malone Raymond C. English William R. Gross Donald S. Martin Edward J. Parker

Jim Taylor, a Togglier in an adjacent aircraft, remembered that the loss occurred on his ninth mission, as they were preparing to start their bomb run. "For some reason, I was looking at Tabasco and admiring her colorful name and painting of the flames that seemed to be engulfing her nose from behind the Bombardier's position to the cockpit. I can still see the words "Hot Stuff" below the pilot's side window. There was a sudden wrenching of the plane-no explosion, fire or smoke. She rose, slowed down and drifted out of my sight. Others watched the descent. As I remember it, pieces of the ship flew back, smashing the windshield of one of our Squadron's planes."

AIRCRAFT MISSION LOG

Two asterisks mean the mission was executed and credited, whether or not successful. One asterisk means the aircraft penetrated enemy airspace but failed to drop its bomb load on target, usually due to obstructing clouds. Strikeout means the aircraft was assigned to but not credited with a mission. NTO means no take off.

DATE RESULT TARGET PILOT
24-Aug-43 ** Diversion Campbell
02-Sep-43 * Lille-Nord Airfield Campbell
03-Sep-43 ** Lille-Nord Airfield Brown
04-Sep-43 ** Coutrai marshalling yard Brown
06-Sep-43 ** Serqueux marshalling yard Campbell
09-Sep-43 ** Boulogne area coastal defenses Campbell
15-Sep-43 ** Merville AirfieldCampbell
18-Sep-43 ** Beauvais-Tille Airfield Campbell
18-Sep-43 Beaumont le Roger Recalled-no escort Campbell
19-Sep-43 * Lille-Nord Airfield Campbell
23-Sep-43 ** Conches Airfield Campbell
24-Sep-43 ** Evreaux-Fauville Airfield Campbell
25-Sep-43 ** St. Omer-Longuenesse Airfield Campbell
27-Sep-43 ** Beauvais-Tille Airfield -?-
02-Oct-43 * St. Omer-Longuenesse Airfield Harrison
03-Oct-43 ** Woensdrecht Airfield Harrison
09-Oct-43 ** Woensdrecht Airfield Campbell
18-Oct-43 Evreaux-Fauville Airfield-Rendevous not made with escort Davis
22-Oct-43 ** Evreaux-Fauville Airfield Weise
22-Oct-43 * Cambrai-Epinoy Airfield Weise
24-Oct-43 ** Beauvais-Nivillers Airfield Campbell
03-Nov-43 ** St. Andre de l'Eure AirfieldCampbell
05-Nov-43 ** Mimoyecques V-1 site Campbell
07-Nov-43 * Montdidier Airfield Sullivan
10-Nov-43 * Lille-Vendeville Airfield DeBolt
19-Nov-43 * Evreaux-Fauville Airfield Campbell
26-Nov-43 * Cambrai-Epinoy Airfield Campbell
29-Nov-43 Cambrai-Epinoy Airfield Recalled-weather Campbell
01-Dec-43 ** Cambrai-Epinoy Airfield Shober
04-Dec-43 * Chievres AirfieldCampbell
05-Dec-43 * Ligescourt-Bois de St. Saulve V-1 site Campbell
20-Dec-43 * Le Meillard-Bonniers V-1 site Campbell
21-Dec-43 ** Berk-sur-Mer Airfield Campbell
22-Dec-43 * Le Meillard-Bonniers Airfield Campbell
24-Dec-43 * Le Meillard-Bonniers V-1 site Morris
30-Dec-43 * Le Meillard-Bonniers V-1 site Campbell
31-Dec-43 ** Cormette V-1 siteCampbell
04-Jan-44 ** Eclimeaux V-1 site -?-
07-Jan-44 * La Glacerie coastal defensesCampbell
14-Jan-44 ** Liagnem V-1 site Campbell
24-Jan-44 ** Maison Ponthieu V-1 site Sanders
25-Jan-44 Bois Rempre V-1 site Abort-weather Powell
03-Feb-44 * Ruisseauville V-1 site Finney
05-Feb-44 * Bois Rempre V-1 site Campbell
08-Feb-44 ** Losterbarne-Ardes V-1 site Campbell
08-Feb-44 ** Cambrai-Niergnies Airfield Campbell
09-Feb-44 ** Belleville en Caux V-1 site Anderson
10-Feb-44 ** Beauvais-Tille V-1 site Will
11-Feb-44 ** Amiens marshalling yard Will
13-Feb-44 ** Hambures V-1 siteCampbell
15-Feb-44 ** La Glacerie V-1 site Campbell
15-Feb-44 ** Chateau de Bosmelet V-1 siteCampbell
20-Feb-44 Eindhoven Abort-no escort Higgs
21-Feb-44 * Soesterberg Airfield Landsborough
22-Feb-44 Soesterberg Airfield Abort-missed rendezvous with escort Cook
24-Feb-44 ** Leeuwarden Airfield Clark
24-Feb-44 ** Ray-sur-Authie V-1 site Clark
25-Feb-44 ** Venlo Airfield Campbell
25-Feb-44 * La Longueville V-1 site Campbell
28-Feb-44 ** Vacqueriette V-1 site Campbell
29-Feb-44 * Behen V-1 site Campbell
01-Mar-44 ** Linghem V-1 site Campbell
02-Mar-44 ** Amiens marshalling yard Campbell
03-Mar-44 ** Montdidier Airfield Campbell
04-Mar-44 * Malines V-1 site Campbell
05-Mar-44 ** Vacqueriette V-1 site Campbell
06-Mar-44 ** Bois des Huit Rues V-1 site Campbell
07-Mar-44 * Aulnoye V-1 site -?-
08-Mar-44 ** Soesterberg Airfield Campbell
08-Mar-44 Soesterberg Airfield Recalled-no escortCampbell
13-Mar-44 * Lettingham-Les Grandes V-1 site Eastman
18-Mar-44 Croisette V-1 site Abort Sanders
19-Mar-44 Foret Nationale de Tourhem V-1 site Recalled-weather Sanders
20-Mar-44 ** Criel marshalling yard Sanders
23-Mar-44 ** Haine St. Pierre marshalling yard Ayer
26-Mar-44 ** Ijmuiden E-boat pens Ayer
10-Apr-44 ** Le Havre coastal defenses Campbell
11-Apr-44 ** Bonniers V-1 siteCampbell
12-Apr-44 ** Dunkerque coastal defenses Roe
13-Apr-44 Namur marshalling yard NTO-starter malfunction -?-
18-Apr-44 ** Charleroi-St. Martin Airfield Ayer
19-Apr-44 * Dieppe coastal defenses Bartley
19-Apr-44 ** Malines marshalling yard Bartley
20-Apr-44 ** Bois Coqueral Airfield Felker
24-Apr-44 ** Benerville coastal defenses Felker
24-Apr-44 * Beauvoir V-1 siteDevennish
25-Apr-44 ** Beauvoir V-1 siteAdelman
27-Apr-44 ** Wimeaux V-1 site Hanna
10-May-44 ** Criel marshalling yard Sullivan
10-May-44 ** Oissel bridge Tribby
12-May-44 ** La Parnelle coastal defensesClark
13-May-44 ** Fort Mardick coastal defenses Hinton
15-May-44 * Douai marshalling yard Cook
19-May-44 ** Quisterham coastal defenses Ayer
20-May-44 ** Benerville coastal defenses Fisher
20-May-44 ** Fecamp coastal defenses Fisher
24-May-44 ** La Parnelle coastal defensesAdelman
04-Jun-44 ** Calais-March (Marck?) field battery Miner
06-Jun-44 ** Madelaine coastal defenses Hinton
556 07-Jun-44 a ** Rennes bridge & junction Tabasco Fisher
557 08-Jun-44 a ** Pontaubault railroad junction Tabasco Moriarty
558 10-Jun-44 b ** Bretteville defended area Tabasco Fisher
559 12-Jun-44 a ** Vire road junction Tabasco Ayer
560 13-Jun-44 a ** Domfront fuel dump Tabasco Moriarty
561 14-Jun-44 b ** Ambrieres road junction Tabasco Anthon
562 18-Jun-44 a ** Rennes marshalling yard Tabasco Goade
563 21-Jun-44 a ** Zudausques V-1 site Tabasco Goade
564 21-Jun-44 b ** Bois d'Esquerdes V-1 site Tabasco Helbock
565 22-Jun-44 a ** Cherbourg tank trap [coordinates 0-159175] Tabasco Moriarty
566 23-Jun-44 a ** Remainsil V-1 site Tabasco McClung
567 25-Jun-44 b ** Foret de Senoches fuel dump Tabasco Cook
568 05-Jul-44 a ** Caen bridges Tabasco Minkler
569 06-Jul-44 a ** Cloyes railroad/highway bridge Tabasco Minkler
570 07-Jul-44 a * Chartres troop concentration & mechanized armor Tabasco Hinton
571 08-Jul-44 a ** Nantes Gassicourt bridge Tabasco Goade
572 09-Jul-44 a * Nantes Gassicourt bridge Tabasco Cook
573 12-Jul-44 a ? ** Nantes Gassicourt bridge Tabasco Cook
574 14-Jul-44 a ** Merey railroad bridge Tabasco Fisher
575 18-Jul-44 a ** Demouville Area D troop concentration Tabasco Helbock
576 19-Jul-44 a ** Tours railroad bridge Tabasco Minkler
577 23-Jul-44 a ** Serquigny railroad bridge Tabasco Campbell
578 24-Jul-44 a Livart Airfield Abort-engine problem Tabasco Jones
579 25-Jul-44 a ** St. Lo toop concentration Tabasco Minkler
580 28-Jul-44 a ** Bourth railroad embankment Tabasco Anthon
581 01-Aug-44 a ** Maintenon railroad bridge Tabasco Cline
582 04-Aug-44 a * St. Remi-sur-Avre bridge Tabasco Anthon
583 12-Aug-44 a * Corbell railroad siding Tabasco Harrison
584 15-Aug-44 a ** Auvers-sur-Oise railroad bridge Tabasco Fisher
585 28-Aug-44 a ** Querieu fuel dump Tabasco Haskell
586 06-Sep-44 a ** Brest strong points Tabasco Alexander
587 06-Sep-44 b ** Brest strong points Tabasco Van Cleave
588 10-Sep-44 a ** Foret de Haye installations Tabasco Hinton
589 12-Sep-44 b ** Foret de Haye installations Tabasco Alexander
590 21-Sep-44 a ** Ehrang marshalling yard Tabasco Helbock
591 27-Sep-44 a ? * Foret de Haye installations Tabasco Anderson
592 05-Oct-44 a * Duren ammunition dump Tabasco Forgue
593 06-Oct-44 a ** Duren ammunition dump Tabasco George
594 07-Oct-44 a ** Bullay railroad bridge Tabasco George
595 11-Oct-44 a ? ** Camp de Bitche installations Tabasco Williams
596 19-Nov-44 a ** Merzig strong point Tabasco Purvis
597 21-Nov-44 a * Birgel defended area Tabasco DeMouche
598 29-Nov-44 a ** Limberg ordnance depot Tabasco Anderson
599 30-Nov-44 a ** Pirmasens railroad tunnel Tabasco Fisher
600 01-Dec-44 a ** Saarlautern defended area Tabasco Muselman
601 02-Dec-44 a ** Saarlautern defended area Tabasco Ledbetter
602 05-Dec-44 a ? * Raichenbach supply dump Tabasco Purvis
603 06-Dec-44 a Dulmen fuel dump Recalled-no escort Tabasco Purvis
604 06-Dec-44 b * Mariaweiller defended village Tabasco Fritts
605 09-Dec-44 a ? ** Ahrweiler-Lebach defended area Tabasco Bullock
606 23-Dec-44 b ** Prum defended area Tabasco Williams
607 02-Jan-45 a ** Bad Munster railroad bridge Tabasco Moffet
608 13-Jan-45 a ** Simmern railroad bridge Tabasco -?-
609 14-Jan-45 a ** Ahrweiler railroad bridge Tabasco Purvis
610 16-Jan-45 a ** Erkelenz rail & communication center Tabasco Henderson
611 22-Jan-45 a ** Dasburg highway bridge Tabasco Magowan
612 03-Feb-45 a ** Sinzig railroad bridge Tabasco Magowan
613 06-Feb-45 a ** Wittlach-Guthenthal stong points Tabasco Henderson
614 08-Feb-45 a ** Calcar defended town Tabasco Moffet
615 09-Feb-45 a ** Vierson communication center Tabasco Meckall
616 15-Feb-45 a Sellingen ordnance depot Recalled Tabasco Magowan
617 16-Feb-45 a ** Rees communication center Tabasco Magowan
618 19-Feb-45 a ** Niederscheld marshalling yard Tabasco Avery
619 21-Feb-45 a ** Haltern marshalling yard Tabasco Patterson
620 22-Feb-45 a ** Nuttlar-Dulman railroad bridge Tabasco Forgue
621 23-Feb-45 a ** Buir supply point Tabasco Donnan
622 24-Feb-45 a ** Vlatten communication center Tabasco Forgue
623 24-Feb-45 b ** Mulenbach-Duan overpasses Tabasco Stroud
624 25-Feb-45 a ** Gettingen railroad bridge Tabasco Fleisher
625 25-Feb-45 b ** Ahrweiler railroad bridge Tabasco Stroud
01-Mar-45 ** Rheinbach communication center Magowan
02-Mar-45 ** Iserlohn barracks area Muselman
02-Mar-45 ** Giessen ordnance depot Henderson
03-Mar-45 ** Wermelskirchen ordnance depot Forgue
13-Mar-45 ** Westerberg marshalling yard Tabasco
13-Mar-45 Frankfurt Rhein-Main Airfield Abt-crewman ill Magowan
14-Mar-45 ** Gross Ostheim Airfield Donnan
15-Mar-45 ** Pirmasens supply & communication center Magowan
16-Mar-45 ** Landau communication center Donnan
17-Mar-45 ** Siegen marshalling yard Helbock
17-Mar-45 ** Frankenberg marshalling yard Donnan
18-Mar-45 * Worms road junction Magowan Pallene English Cross Martin Parker