Agay's B-24 Liberator, Var, France
Pilot : second lieutenant Robert V. Batz
Mission Date May 27, 1944, MACR 5413
Target Bombardment of Montpellier's airfield
Zone of crash Sea (-140ft), Agay's bay, Var, France
Plane Type B-24G-10-NT
Serial 42-78213 "Ophélia Bump"
Squadron 15th AF, 304th BW, 454th BG, 736th Squadron
Crew
Pilot S/Lt Robert V. Batz Killed
Copilot S/Lt George E. Erlewine Killed
Navigator S/Lt
Robert T. Bragg Killed
Bomber S/Lt James H. Logan
Radio Sgt Gene Vodopia
Waist gunner Sgt Little
Nose turret gunner Sgt Robert F. Royer Killed, USA
Dorsal turret gunner Sgt Ward O. Bowman Killed
Ball turret gunner Sgt Ramsey Killed
Tail turret gunner Sgt Peters
Saturdays May 27, 1944, the four bombers groups of the 304th Bomber-Wing 15th Air Force, took off from their bases in the south of Italy, to attack Montpellier/Fréjorgues's airfield.
Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.
Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.
4 men will succeed in jumping in parachute, and will be immediately made prisoners. The parachute of a fifth man, the nose turret gunner, will be put unfortunately in torch, while the five last members of crew will be killed, having been for various reasons, in the incapacity to evacuate the plane.
The sea will hide the bomber become now an underwater wreck until the end of august 1984, when during an exploration diving on the Agay's bay, were discovered, by 140 feet depth, its dislocated wrecks.
The team who discovered the wreks (Philippe Bres, Jean-Pierre Joncheray, its son Philippe, Bernard Mariller, Yves Moussou, Claude Pinaut and the author), was very marked by this formless mass which rested on the sandy bottom, and where also lay, an anti-Flak waistcoats, a parachute rolled up around a machine-gun having belonged to the turret of nose, shoes...
3/8/2024 - Working with Stories Behind the Stars - WWII Fallen (Cathy Stratz)
Update - Date of birth actually 12 Sep 1915 (vs 14th per handwritten draft card and NARA records under pre-commissioning service # 16060270). Also on draft card - spelling of middle name = Everet (vs Everett).
Agay's B-24 Liberator, Var, France
Pilot : second lieutenant Robert V. Batz
Mission Date May 27, 1944, MACR 5413
Target Bombardment of Montpellier's airfield
Zone of crash Sea (-140ft), Agay's bay, Var, France
Plane Type B-24G-10-NT
Serial 42-78213 "Ophélia Bump"
Squadron 15th AF, 304th BW, 454th BG, 736th Squadron
Crew
Pilot S/Lt Robert V. Batz Killed
Copilot S/Lt George E. Erlewine Killed
Navigator S/Lt
Robert T. Bragg Killed
Bomber S/Lt James H. Logan
Radio Sgt Gene Vodopia
Waist gunner Sgt Little
Nose turret gunner Sgt Robert F. Royer Killed, USA
Dorsal turret gunner Sgt Ward O. Bowman Killed
Ball turret gunner Sgt Ramsey Killed
Tail turret gunner Sgt Peters
Saturdays May 27, 1944, the four bombers groups of the 304th Bomber-Wing 15th Air Force, took off from their bases in the south of Italy, to attack Montpellier/Fréjorgues's airfield.
Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.
Among them, the 454th Bomber-Goup, formed of 30 planes. A very little time before the crossing of the French coasts, on the level of the cape Roux, located on the coasts of the Estérel's mount, a B-24 is hit in full by Flak.
4 men will succeed in jumping in parachute, and will be immediately made prisoners. The parachute of a fifth man, the nose turret gunner, will be put unfortunately in torch, while the five last members of crew will be killed, having been for various reasons, in the incapacity to evacuate the plane.
The sea will hide the bomber become now an underwater wreck until the end of august 1984, when during an exploration diving on the Agay's bay, were discovered, by 140 feet depth, its dislocated wrecks.
The team who discovered the wreks (Philippe Bres, Jean-Pierre Joncheray, its son Philippe, Bernard Mariller, Yves Moussou, Claude Pinaut and the author), was very marked by this formless mass which rested on the sandy bottom, and where also lay, an anti-Flak waistcoats, a parachute rolled up around a machine-gun having belonged to the turret of nose, shoes...
3/8/2024 - Working with Stories Behind the Stars - WWII Fallen (Cathy Stratz)
Update - Date of birth actually 12 Sep 1915 (vs 14th per handwritten draft card and NARA records under pre-commissioning service # 16060270). Also on draft card - spelling of middle name = Everet (vs Everett).
Bio by: Andy
Inscription
736 BOMB SQ 454 BOMB GP/H/ MI
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Michigan.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
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