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The Holy Moses
The Holy Moses was the B-26 Marauder usually flown by
Captain
Moses Gatewood and his crew: Radio/Gunner - William T. O'Brien,
Bombardier/Navigator - Walter D. Blatchford, Co-Pilot -
Richard Haymond,
Engineer/Gunner - William J. Snyder, Armourer/Gunner - Eldon Lee Hughes.
However this is not the aircraft they were flying on the
fateful evening of June 24, 1944 when they were shot down by the enemy over
occupied France during the successful
bomb raid on the Sartrouville railway bridge. On that day, they were
flying the "Mama
Liz" instead.
After that day, the "Holy Moses" went on to complete over
100 missions, but crashed shortly after take off on a combat mission on
February 26, 1945, on the 397th Group's mission #180. All 6 crew on board
were killed when the aircraft struck the ground in a sparsely wooded area
about 3 miles South East of Wassigny, France. Six of the eight 500lb bombs
exploded on impact leaving little remains of the aircraft or crew, so no
conclusion could be drawn as to the cause of the crash. The remains of two
men are buried at the Epinal, France, American Cemetery; with one being
returned to Keokuk National Cemetery, Iowa, USA. The other three men's
resting places are currently unknown. - Source: Brian
Gibbons, 397th BG historian
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The Holy Moses - Photo James
Hunt collection, via Brian Gibbons |
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Standing, left to right: Pilot - Moses J.
Gatewood, Radio/Gunner - William T. O'Brien,
Bombardier/Navigator - Walter D. Blatchford,
Co-Pilot - Richard Haymond, Engineer/Gunner
- William J. Snyder, Armourer/Gunner - Eldon
Lee Hughes. Kneeling, Left to Right: Crew
Chief - John Kilmen, Assistant Crew Chief -Virgle
C. Gilbertson - Photo from
William T. O'Brien collection via Sally
Root/Brian Gibbons |
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