MACR PILOT: Capt Thomas E Murphy O-441010
MACR #: 00948
Fiche #: 00314
Organization
Location: AAF Station #139
Group: 100th Bomb Gp (H) AAF
Squadron: 351st BS
Command: VIII AF
Detachment:
Detail
Departure/Base: AAF Station #139
Initial Course: ENE
Intended Destination: Bremen
Mission Type: Operational
Weather
Weather: CAVU
Give
Date: October 8, 1943
Time: 15:22
Location: Bremen, Germany
Specify: Last Sighted
Confirmed or believed reason for loss
Loss due to: Enemy anti-aircraft
Other reason for loss:
Engines
Model: R-1820-97
A: 43-64339
B: 41-57909
C: 41-57916
D: 43-56654
Weapons
A: 421556
B: 372060
C: 371743
D: 372098
E: 155780
F: 914219
G: 372317
H: 371353
I: 372140
J: 372011
L: 371858
Persons are listed as
Casualty Type: Battle casualty
Number of persons on board
Crew: 11
Pass: 0
Total: 11
Personnel
Use your thumb to scroll through the results box below.
| Position | Name | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| P1 | Alvin L Barker | Capt | O-438502 |
| P2 | Thomas E Murphy | Capt | O-441010 |
| CP | Marshall Lee | 2Lt | O-671982 |
| NAV (N) | Charles C Sarabun | 1Lt | O-794057 |
| BOM (B) | Floyd C Peterson | 1Lt | O-734734 |
| RAD | Derrell C Piel | TSgt | 37071132 |
| ENG | John J Ehlen | TSgt | 17050885 |
| BAL | Reed A Hufford | SSgt | 13108994 |
| WG (W) | Elder D Dickerson | SSgt | 18129605 |
| WG (W) | Gerald O (only) Robinson | SSgt | 16085214 |
| TG (T) | Aaron A David | SSgt | 18019560 |
Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft
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| Name | Knowledge | Rank | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howard E Keel | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-737964 |
| John T Griffin | Last sighted | 2Lt | O-798489 |
Personnel who are believed to have survived
Reason: Parachutes were used
Other:
Eyewitness description of crash
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| Last Name | First name | Report |
|---|---|---|
| Saw Murphy's ship, #3 engine on fire, 1 minute after bombs were released. It dove down and exploded. Four chutes were seen. (Howard E. Keel) Capt. Murphy's ship was hit in #3 engine. Was going down under control. At least 5 chutes were seen. (John T. Griffin) | ||
| ON 15 OCT 43 AT THE POST CEMETERY, WESERMUENDE, GERMANY, THE REMAINS OF MURPHY, BARKER, LEE, PIEL AND DICKERSON WERE INTERRED IN GRAVES #103 THROUGH 3107. THE PICCADILLY LILY WAS IMMORTALIZED BY SY BARLETT AND BEIRNE LAY'S "TWELVE O' CLOCK HIGH." WITHOUT A DOUBT SHE IS THE MOST REMEMBERED BOMBER OF WWII. |
Description of search effort
Detail: No search made.
Preparing Officer
Prepared by: Claude L. Hosford 1st Lt., AC, Personnel Officer
Date prepared: October 12, 1943