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MACR

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:

Aircraft

Serial: 42-5864

Type: B-17

Series: F

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

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PositionNameRankSerial
P1Alvin L BarkerCaptO-438502
P2Thomas E MurphyCaptO-441010
CPMarshall Lee2LtO-671982
NAV (N)Charles C Sarabun1LtO-794057
BOM (B)Floyd C Peterson1LtO-734734
RADDerrell C PielTSgt37071132
ENGJohn J EhlenTSgt17050885
BALReed A HuffordSSgt13108994
WG (W)Elder D DickersonSSgt18129605
WG (W)Gerald O (only) RobinsonSSgt16085214
TG (T)Aaron A DavidSSgt18019560

Persons who are believed to have last knowledge of aircraft

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NameKnowledgeRankSerial
Howard E KeelLast sighted2LtO-737964
John T GriffinLast sighted2LtO-798489

Personnel who are believed to have survived

Reason: Parachutes were used

Other:

Eyewitness description of crash

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Last NameFirst nameReport
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