Crew Roster · Personal File

Luther C. Cox

Pilot · 328th Squadron

HometownBaltimore, MD

Capt. Luther C. Cox was the pilot of B-24D "Double Trouble" on the 19 January 1943 mission to Sousse, Tunisia.

Cox survived and later provided interrogation testimony at Mitchel Field, New York, stating that his airplane was hit by flak and fighters, crashed into the water and exploded, and that only two parachutes were seen to open. He is listed as RMC (Returned to Military Control) on the MACR.

From the 2nd Air Division Association Yearbook

Original member of 93rd Bomb Group, 228th Sqdn. [note: likely 328th], Barksdale Field, LA, May 11. Page Field, FL; August 8 Grenier Field, NH; Sept. 6, 1942 orders to proceed to England.

Reported to Commanding General 8th Air Force. First group to fly formation across the North Atlantic non-stop. Sept. 10, 1942, Alconbury Air Base, England. Oct. 9, 1942 flew on first all-American raid against Lille, France (10 missions ETO). Dec. 6, 1942 Group TDY to North Africa (Oran) and Middle East (Gambus - LG 139).

Was shot down on 21st mission, target Sousse, Tunisia, N.A. Two survivors, bombardier and navigator (Cox). They remained POWs until liberated by Gen. Patton on April 29, 1945. Mitchel Field, NY, Sept. 28, 1945.

Prisoner of War

Sortie Log

1 CATALOGUED SORTIE
19 JAN 1943

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission

Date

Target

Aircraft

—

19 JAN 1943

Sousse, Tunisia

B-24D serial 41-23672, nicknamed "Double Trouble," was lost on 19 January 1943 during a bombing mission to Sousse, Tunisia. The aircraft was hit by flak and fighters. Pilot Capt. Luther C. Cox reported that the airplane crashed into the water and exploded. Only two parachutes were seen to open; the tail gunner died in the aircraft. The aircraft was last sighted approximately 150 miles southeast of Malta, heading toward the Tunisian coast before it disappeared.

Double Trouble41-23672

§ Personal Record

Before the War

Born March 15, 1918, Baltimore, MD. Entered the AAC Flight Training May 28, 1941. Graduated April 11, 1942, Tunner Field, GA. Commissioned second lieutenant.