USAAF 42-96138 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 42-96138 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder

1942096138, 42-96138 Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder Fate: crashed Unit: 397BG598BS Remarks: 397BG598BS Code:U2-C named: By Golly hit by fighters, crashed and burned Jul 9, 1944, Disposal: 09-Jul-44

Photo IWM FRE 13359: MIRACULOUS ESCAPE OF A B-26 CREW. A B-26 Marauder 'By Golly' a ship carrying nine men, left a base in England for the target, they got a 'heavy; reception from flak. One engine got knocked out, the hydraulic tank soon started throwing oil in through the hatch and the right rudder control useless, so the Marauder crew started making preparations to bail out over enemy territory. In the last minute Captain West, the pilot of the ship asked them to 'hold it' and added 'I think we can get this wreck back;. The men looked startled when they heard this remark of their beloved pilot, but after 36 mission under Captain West in 'By Golly' they knew that their pilot knew the score. This B-26 finally made it and in spite of the crash landing, the whole crew of 'By Golly' is safe. The landing was made on one of the Allied air strips in France. Photo shows: The crew of B-26 'By Golly' looking at their wrecked plane. Their names are Captain John West, pilot of [illegible] Mississippi, (standing by the propellor) and the other L to R- 2nd Lt WC Budge, Co-pilot, Columbus Ohio, 2nd Lt DH Cramer, navigator, of Madison Wisconsin, PFC [illegible] Jones, waist gunner, of El Dorado, Arkansas, S/Sgt Lloyd I Webb, Radio operator of [illegible] City, Tenn. S/Sgt Harold Zola, Dorchester, Mass (tail gunner) T/Sgt Chester J Matanka, radio operator, of Cisero, Ill, 1st lt Fred J [illegible] bombardier, of Defiance, Ohio and S/Sgt EH Picklesimer, to-turret gunner of Pikeville, Kentucky.