consolidated b-24h liberator (42-72873)

CONSOLIDATED B-24H LIBERATOR (REGISTRATION: 42-72873)
The Night Stalkers: Top Secret Missions of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Aviation Regiment
The Night Stalkers: Top Secret Missions of the U.S. Army's Special Operations Aviation Regiment
By Michael J. Durant, Steven Hartov, Robert L. Johnson
Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive
Secret War Heroes: The Men of Special Operations Executive
By Marcus Binney
CONSOLIDATED B-24H LIBERATOR (REGISTRATION: 42-72873)
On the secret Carpetbagger mission to supply the French Resistance in arms and materiel (Mission “Ventriloquist 35”) on the night of 4-5 July 1944, B-24 #42-72873 was attacked above Artenay, North of Orleans, by a German Me110 fighter and shot down, Hptm Fritz Söthe of II.4/NJG4 being credited for its loss. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 6990.

According to a statement in MACR 6990, 42-72873 was the only aircraft on that secret Carpetbagger mission. Co-Pilot Edward Tappan was the sole survivor of the 8-man crew and managed to evade capture.

Seven crew were Killed In Action (KIA) : Pilot John O. Broten; Navigator Roy C. Gehue; Bombardier Alfred C. Emert; Radio Operator William Freidkas; Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Harry L. Sparks; Left Waist Gunner Jessie R. Ellis; Tail Gunner Michael J. Pranzetelli.
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  1. CARPETBAGGERS Sparks, Harry L.

    SURNAME Sparks FORENAME Harry L. UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 34708160 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE GRAVESITE Epinal American Cemetery,France Plot A Row 17 Grave 28 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Calhoun County,Alabama engineer...

  2. CARPETBAGGERS Pranzetelli, Michael J.

    SURNAME Pranzetelli FORENAME Michael J. UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK NUMBER 31331737 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE 19 GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Wallingford,New Haven County,Connecticut tail gunner B-24H 42-72873 down by nightfighter...

  3. CARPETBAGGERS Gehue, Roy C.

    SURNAME Gehue FORENAME Roy C. UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK Second Lieutenant NUMBER 0-707382 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Washington,D.C. navigator B-24H 42-72873 down by nightfighter...

  4. CARPETBAGGERS Freidkas, William

    SURNAME Freidkas FORENAME William UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK Staff Sergeant NUMBER 32860380 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Bronx County,New York radio operator B-24H 42-72873 down by nightfighter...

  5. CARPETBAGGERS Emert, Alfred Caswell

    SURNAME Emert FORENAME Alfred Caswell UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK First Lieutenant NUMBER 0-688180 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE GRAVESITE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Seymour,Sevier County,Tennessee husband of Ada Emert (daughter Alfreda born one...

  6. CARPETBAGGERS Ellis, Jesse Ray

    SURNAME Ellis FORENAME Jesse Ray UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK Sergeant NUMBER 18098768 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE 20 GRAVESITE Grace Hill Cemetery, Longview, Gregg County, Texas, USA ADDITIONAL INFORMATION born 27.03.1924 father John P. Ellis...

  7. CARPETBAGGERS Broten, John O.

    SURNAME Broten FORENAME John O. UNIT 36 Bomber Squadron (801 Bomber Group) RANK First Lieutenant NUMBER 0-1574610 DATE OF DEATH 5th July 1944 AGE GRAVESITE Arlington National Cemetery,Virginia Section 12 Site 247 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION from Essex County,New Jersey pilot...
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