433 Troop Carrier Group
2nd Lieutenant Lloyd C. MAHURIN
From Joplin, Missouri.
Killed in Action on 11th August 1943 as co-pilot of C-47A / #42-92061.
Took off from Nutts Corner airfield, Belfast, Ireland on a ferry flight to St. Mawgan, Cornwall.
The crew encountered marginal weather conditions and was unable to locate the airfield of Newquay-Saint Mawgan. The aircrew then flew over the Channel. While cruising southeast of Quimper, the aircraft was shot down by two FW-190's and crashed 100 meters north of the St. Thomas chapel at Pleuven, France. 4 KIA / 1 EVD. MACR 228.
2Lt Mahurin is buried at Ardennes Cemetery, C-33-20. Also see https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-ardennes-m/66301-mahurin-lloyd-c
The above photographs are all courtesy of www.absa3945.com
Above left the crash site of C-47A #42-92061. Above right the local memorial honoring the air crew.
The four photographs show from left to right: co-pilot (Mahurin), navigator, radio operator and pilot.
357 Fighter Group / 363 Fighter Squadron
Captain James W. BROWNING
From Syracuse, Kansas.
Missing in Action on 9th February 1945 as pilot of P-51D / #44-15630 / B6-'L' / 'Junior Miss'.
Took off from Leiston airfield on a bomber escort mission to Bohlen, Germany. Collided in mid-air with a ME-262 flown by Oberstleutnant Freiherr von Riedesel, the Commanding Officer of Kampf Jager Geschwader 54. Both aircraft crashed 2 miles south-west of Wuerges/Bad Camberg, 12 miles sout-east of Limburg an der Lahn.
Due to the massive explosion when both aircraft collided no remains could be identified.
Captain Browning is commemorated on the Luxembourg Cemetery Tablets of the Missing.
Note that the above form has yet to be completed with the above info.
Captain James W. Browning was a good friend of the famous 357 FG ace 'Bud' Anderson. The moderator of this website personally corresponded with Mr. Anderson and received his permission to use the above photographs from his collection and website.
More info on the final flight of Captain Browning can also be found here https://toflyandfight.com/captain-jim-brownings-last-mission-by-captain-don-bochkay/
447th Bombardment Group / 711th Bombardment Squadron
1st Lieutenant Richard E. FOUTS
From Massillon, Ohio.
Killed in action 28th February 1944 as pilot of B-17G / #42-31204.
Took off from Rattlesden airfield. Target: the V-sites in the Pas-de-Calais area, France.
Hit by flak on the bomb-run, #3 and #4 engines were on fire. the aircraft exploded in mid-air and crashed near Croisette, 4 miles south-west of St. Pol. 7 KIA / 3 POW. MACR 2890.
1Lt Fouts is buried at Normandy Cemetery, B-9-41.
434th Troop Carrier Group / 71st Troop Carrier Squadron
2nd Lieutenant Raymond C. HOWARD
From Abilene, Texas.
Killed in action 6th of June 1944 as pilot of C-47A / #43-15101 / CJ-'S'.
While on a glider tow mission during 'D-Day' hit by ground fire over Etienville. Crashed at Isle Marie / chef Du Pont, 2 miles south-west of St. Mere-Eglise, Normandy, France. MACR 5658. The pilot was killed after landing by German fire and the other three crew members were taken POW. The co-pilot was killed when the column in which the POW's were transported was strafed by P-47's. (2 KIA / 2 POW).
2Lt Howard is buried at Normandy Cemetery, E-16-21.
The crash site photographs are courtesy of www.508pir.org
The crash site photographs were sourced from www.508pir.org
The upper left photograph is from Pilot Class Book 43-C, Gibbs Field, Texas. The other two were sourced from Find a Grave.
1 Arctic Rescue Squadron
1st Lieutenant John A. DAVIS
From Seattle, Washington.
Killed on a Non-Operational flight on 28th November 1943 as co-pilot of AT-7B (the military version of the Beechcraft Model 18) #42-43480.
Took off from Sondre Stromfjord airfield en route to Narsassuaq airfield, Greenland. While on a routine flight with four passengers this aircraft went down 70 miles south of the departure point apparently having struck an ice cap. 7 KNO.
1Lt Davis is commemorated on the Cambridge Cemetery Tablets of the Missing.
The upper left class book photograph is from Pilot Class 43-C, Chico field, California. The middle one from 43-C, King City, California.
the upper right USAAF photograph shows an AT-7 B, the military version of the Beechcraft Model 18.
31st Air Transport Group / 326 Ferry Squadron
2nd Lieutenant Alva W. LEEPER Jr.
From Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
2Lt Leeper was originally a test pilot before becoming a pilot with the 326th Ferry Squadron.
Killed in a flying accident on 9th February 1944 as pilot of P-51B / # 43-6969.
Crashed at Gaunts Earthcott, Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, UK.
2Lt Leeper is buried at Cambridge Cemetery D-4-15.
