USAAF 42-107622 Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder

USAAF serial number S/N: 42-107622 Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder

1942107622, 42-107622 Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder, Fate: Unit: 323BG453BS Remarks: 323BG453BS White Tails Code:VT-W, Disposal:

Photo: 42-107622 Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder
B-26 Marauder (VT-W, serial number 42-107622) of the 323rd Bomb Group sucessfully bombs railway yards at Armentieres. Printed caption on reverse: ' 52077 AC.- Its mission completed, this Ninth Air Force Marauder medium bomber turns for its home base abover the smoking railway yards at Armentieres in Northern France. The target, located in the French town, was bombed recently in a late evening mission to delay German reinforcements and supplies moving to support enemy troops opposing Allied forces in Normandy.'

Martin B-26 Marauder (VT-W, serial number 42-107622 "Stars 'N Gripes") of the 323rd Bomb Group, 453rd Bomb Squadron bombs the target during a mission on June 22, 1944 to the Armentierres Marshaling Yard.

Box II, Flight 1 on the mission (led by Maj. Alfred A. Blomberg-Pilot, 1st Lt. Al Allision-Navigator, 1st Lt. Walt Foster-Bombardier, Staff Sergeant T. S. Davies- Engineer/Gunner, Staff Sergeant J.N. Morgan-Radio/Gunner and Staff Sergeant F. J. S____ -Tail Gunner) in WT-G "Kactus Kid" (456the Bomb Squadron) scored what was presumed to be a direct hit on a German munitions train as it pulled into the railyard. The resulting explosion created a plume of smoke that reached approximately 12,000 feet.

Thirty-six Marauders attacked the target, 33 of which were able to drop 16 x 250 pound general purpose bombs each on the primary target. Three aircraft were unable to attack due to battle damage from intense, heavy and accurate flak encountered over the target area. Bombing was from 11,400 feet by Flights of six aircraft. Twenty-three of the 36 attacking Marauders sustained Class A battle damage. Three Marauders were so badly damaged that they were forced to make emergency and/or crash landings at an emergency airfield away from their base at Earls Colne Airfield, Essex County, England. The mission was run late in the day, and it was night when the crews landed in England.

"Luftwaffe Nemesis - Here you see a "Silver Streak" Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber of the 9th AF leaving the Nazi airfield at Beauvais Tille in France, after a recent attack by the Marauders. A large dispersal area took a heavy pounding during the daylight operation and hits were scored on an important hangar, crews reported. Thirty three separate attacks were carried out by both Marauders and Havocs of the 9th AF on Luftwaffe airfields in May 44."