Air War in WWII - Europe
1939 - 1945

Lost men of B-26 Marauder Bomb Groups
research project



323rd BG - German photos of prisoners


Mandiberg Arnold J, 1 Lt, 323rd BG/453th BS
Serial number O&793804, New York
wasPOW in Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia, Germany,
returned

Scott Winton A, 1 Lt, 323rd BG/453th BS
Serial number O&731774, California
was POW in Stalag Luft 1, Barth-Vogelsang, Prussia, Germany,
returned

White Robert C, S/Sgt, 323rd BG/454th-455th BS
Serial number 34136844, Mississippi
was POW in Stalag Luft 4, Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug), Pomerania, Prussia
(moved to Wobbelin at Ludwigslust) (to Usedom at Savenmunde), Germany,
returned

McLandish Harry E , Sgt, 323rd BG/453th BS
No details available, he is listed as MIA at mission Dieppe but he is on the photo sheet, it looks that he was POW.
When someone have more Informations about McLandish contact me please.

This 4 men was lost on 5 Febuary 1944 on mission no. 96/97 NoBalls at Linghem and
Le Grismont, France, three aircraft was lost with 19 aircrewsmen when they attack the secondary target NoBall site at Dannes, France


February 4, 1944, the aircrews were briefed to attack the NoBalls at Linghem and Le Grismont but poor weather led to the missions being scrubbed before take-off. Late on the 5th this attack finally got off the ground but weather over the targets forced all three boxes to drop on the secondary target-a NoBall site at Dannes. The bombing results were fair to good but the cost was three aircraft with 19 aircrewmen lost, 30 other aircraft damaged and two returning aircrew-man wounded. The Marauders going down had been flown by Capt. James N. Bryan, 1st Lt. Robert P Mims' and 1st Lt. Arthur J. Mandiberg. Some parachutes were seen. MIA were Capt. James N. Bryan, 1st Lt. John K. Brush, 1st Lt. Salvatore E. Echo, S/Sgt William J. Hendrickson, S/Sgt John A. Holton, 1st Lt. William J. Hook, 1st Lt. Leon R. Jackson, 1st Lt. Arnold J. Mandiberg, 1st Lt. John R. Martin, Sgt Harry E. McLandish, T/Sgt William F. McLaren, 1st Lt. Robert P. Mims, S/Sgt Michael R. Miyo, Sgt Paul C. Pearce, 1st Lt. Winton A. Scott, S/Sgt Silvio J. Tulipane, S/Sgt William F. Vermillion, S/Sgt Robert C. White and Capt. Charles L. Whyte.

The "Chriesman Crew" was scheduled as a spare but at the last minute it was ordered to take-off and join up in a number seven position. "As it so happened, this was in Lt. Mandiberg's flight. When the flak came up, it was fierce. One shell made a direct hit on Mandiberg's right engine. Continuing to spin, the propeller came off and flew through the formation. Behind Mandiberg, we flew through a curtain of oil, nuts and bolts." Postwar comments of John W. Price.

[About ten days went by] "...during which time the Russians insisted that we give them a complete list of all POWs by name, home address, etc. I happened to be Assistant Housing Officer on Zemke's staff and had this task as a part of my job. We completed the list, in English, and they said, "Nyet," demanding that the list be in Russian. Fortunately, we had ten or twelve men in camp who were fluent in Russian. Working around the clock, we finished this job in around two days.

Zemke's plan finally came to fruition and we were evacuated by air. We marched the fellows to the airfield, the troop carriers landed, cut one engine, loaded and took off, taking the men to Camp Lucky

Strike in France.
Zemke and his staff, including me, took the last flight out and went straight to Paris where we were billeted in an Air Force hotel. Zemke tried to get air passage for all of us, but was not successful, as only he had that priority. We hung around Paris for a day or two and then took a train to Lucky Strike." Postwar comments of Arnold J. Mandiberg.

Excerpt from Marauder Men, by John O. Moench


Morgan L D, S/Sg, 323rd BG/454th BS
Serial number 6271425, Texas
was POW - camp unknown or was wounded in hospital
returned
When someone have more Informations about the camp contact me please.

Coursen George H, S/Sgt, 323rd BG/454th BS
Serial number 06904143, New York
Died November 23, 1945 and is buried at: Plot B Row 21 Grave 17,
Normandy American Cemetery
 St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, died 23 November 1945

Gobeil Normand L, T/Sgt, 323rd BG/454th BS
Serial number 11037731, Massachusetts
was POW in Stalag Luft 3, Sagan-Silesia Bavaria
(Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser), Germany
returned

Details to T/Sgt Grobeil and S/Sgt Morgan:
T/Sgt Normand L Gobeil, 323/454 (MIA) - Dieppe Mission, 20 May 1944. Flying with Major Marion Morgan. "Morgan's right engine caught fire. His engineer, Normand L Gobeil, bailed out and damned near hit my turret as he fell. His tail gunner, L.D. Morgan, also bailed out. Postwar comments of
Wilbur R.

This 3 men was lost on 20 May 1944 on mission no. 178/179 Evereux/Fauville AD and
Dieppe Port area, France.



Many thanks to Michael E. Smith (B26.com) which helped me in my researches.

When you fond any mistake(s) on the page contact me for corrections please!
Nobody is perfect

Have you more informations about this men contact me!
Thank you!
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