“Missouri Sue”

B-24 Liberator serial 41-24122, 409th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bombardment Group, based at Hardwick Airdrome, Norfolk, England. Lost on 16 April 1943 while returning from a raid on Brest, France.

An eyewitness report by Captain Lake stated that after bombing the target the aircraft was seen with its left rudder shot off and No. 2 engine in flames, forcing it out of formation. Losing altitude, it was escorted out over the coast of France. A British Spitfire reported the aircraft ditched at approximately 49°00'N, 04°00'W, approximately 20 miles north of the Brittany peninsula in the English Channel.

According to a letter from the pilot's father, a British Spitfire pilot reported that all crew members were seen to alight onto rubber rafts (dinghies) after the aircraft came down safely on the water, suggesting a possible landing on the shore of Brittany. None of the crew were ever reported as prisoners of war, internees, or escapees.

The entire crew was officially declared killed in action on 16 April 1943 per a Report of Death issued 7 April 1949 under Section 9 of the Missing Persons Act. The crew had been presumed dead since 17 April 1944 under Section 5. Unknown deceased recovered from the shores of France could not be favorably associated with any crew member.