Les Pieux | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge on a transfer mission to North Africa, taking part to the Operation Torch. Passing over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Les Pieux, southwest of Cherbourg. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt William Alfred Bloom Jr., pilot,
1st Lt Ray W. Henslee, pilot,
1st Lt James R. Howell,
Sgt Arnold Frederick Bettge,
T/Sgt Carroll F. Salter.
Passengers:
Lt Col Alvord Rutherford,
1st Lt Arthur K. Perry Jr.,

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-1 Marauder in Les Pieux: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

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Registration:

41-17774

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The airplane departed RAF Attlebridge on a transfer mission to North Africa, taking part to the Operation Torch. Passing over France, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Les Pieux, southwest of Cherbourg. Six crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew:
Cpt Frank M. Tuttle, pilot, †
Sgt John Joseph Gubala, †
Sgt Albert Thomas Bender, †
1st Lt William P. Hollingsworth, †
1st Lt Elmer Augustus Ricketts Jr.,
S/Sgt Vernon B. Lindberg, †
2nd Lt Harold C. Bigger Jr. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.