Marauder Bombers Lost on 12 November 1942

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

On 12 November 1942, a pair of B-26 twin-engined bombers of the 439th BS, 319th BG, USAAF became lost in bad weather while on transit to North Africa, ventured over the Cherbourg Peninsula and were shot down by either Flak or fighters. B-26B (41-17774) flown by Capt Frank Tuttle crashed near Cherbourg and and B-26B (41-17777) flown by 1/Lt William Bloom Jr crashed at Les Pieux. Interestingly, Unteroffizier Peter Fasshauer of 4./JG 2 claimed a Marauder at 16:15 two kilometers southwest of Helleville at 200-300 meters and his squadron mate Oberfeldwebel Kurt Goltzsch claimed a second at 16:17 one kilometer southeast of Les Pieux at 200-300 meters that day. Assuming that the bombers were traveling in a north to south direction it would make sense that Fasshauer claimed B-26B (41-17774) and Goltzsch claimed B-26B (41-17777). Can anyone provide the exact locations where the bombers crashed? Many thanks.

Horrido!

Leo