21 APRIL 1944
:
2/LT Bass, Louis F. (P) 577th KIA
2/LT Gahm, Kenneth L. (CP) 577th KIA
2/LT Steele, Wayne M. (N) 577th KIA
2/LT Stover, Arthur R. Jr. (B) 577th KIA
T/S Thomas, James W. (R) 577th KIA
SGT Reeves, Walter E. (RW) 577th KIA
SGT Burnett, Warren H. (BT) 577th KIA
S/S Norrell, Robert E. (TG) 577th KIA
This crew was participating in formation join up for the mission scheduled to a target of Zwickau this date. Due to very bad weather conditions during assembly of the 2AD Groups over England, the entire mission was cancelled after units were airborne and attempting to form up. The Bass crew for reasons unknown suffered structural break-up of their aircraft while in this foul weather during assembly operations. Around 1417 hours, the plane crashed at North Tuddenham, near East Dereham, Norfolk. Two (2) crewmembers bailed out successfully, and eight (8) perished in this accident. One crew member is buried in the U.S. National (overseas) Cemetery at CAMBRIDGE: Sgt. James W Thomas in Grave F-4-36. He was awarded the Purple Heart as his only citation. His home state of record was Arkansas. The aircraft involved was B-24J Model #42-99979, Call Letter "W", nicknamed "ESQUIRE LADY", the ship having completed a total of (7) combat missions up to this mishap. (Note: This nickname of ESQUIRE LADY was a new one after being assigned to the 577th earlier in April 1944. Originally, while assigned to the 578th Squadron, its nickname had been KENTUCKY BABY with Call Letter "RBar").
Little remained of #42-99979 after it broke apart in the air during form-up for a mission.
The mission was later recalled due to bad weather.
