MACR 6167, C-47 serial number 42-100905 (MSN 19368)

Portrayed in the book "Behind Hitler's Lines" by Thomas H. Taylor

aboard an aircraft troop carrier that crashed - MACR 6167, C-47 serial number 42-100905 (MSN 19368) Aircraft was given to USAAF Jan 1, 1944. Eighth Air Force 8 Mar 44. 95th Troop Carrier Squadron, 440th Troop Carrier Group, Ninth Air Force, Exeter (Station 463); named ‘Donna Mae’. Transported paratroopers of the 1st Platoon of I Company, 3rd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment to a drop zone near Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy, France on Mission ‘Albany’, 5/6Jun44. Shot down before the drop zone by enemy ground fire, crashed near Le Férage, Magneville, Normandy [22KIA]. 21 casualties related to the #42-100905 incident on June 6, 1944.Crew of C-47A Skytrain #42-100905 from the 9th Air Force.

On 13 July, the bodies of the victims were transferred to the US military cemetery of Blosville.

Today, six of the 18 paratroopers are buried in the Coleville-sur-Mer Cemetery which houses most of the American soldiers that were killed in Normandie.

A memorial is located in Magneville, France honoring those that died in the C-47 crash. It is located on the north side of the Tocqueville Road, and after passing the retirement home.

Paratroopers from the 101st Airborne Division

click on the links below each name for their Honor States biography, their Find A Grave Memorial and their Fold3 profile.

1st Lt. Gerald V Howard Jr., Jump Master, OH O-1011179

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3

Pfc. John J Kittia, Paratrooper, PA 6877969

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pfc. William E Olson, Paratrooper, MI 16102618

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pvt. Howard A Phillips, Paratrooper, GA 34768635

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pfc. Frederick P Smith, Paratrooper, PA 13104102

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3

Corp. Marvin M. Stallings, Paratrooper, TX 18117780

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3

Sgt. Robert L Todd, Paratrooper, PA 12131770

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

T/5 Orville R Vanderpool, Paratrooper, OK 6297766

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pvt. Paul J Weber, Paratrooper, MI 36575829

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pvt. Glen L Weirich, Paratrooper, IN 35544533

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pvt. Clarence M Wright, Paratrooper, KY 20542281

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3*

Pvt. John A Wright, Paratrooper, MN 37552915

Honor States Find A Grave Memorial Fold3

Crew of C-47A Skytrain #42-100905 from the 9th Air Force

Pilot: 1st Lt. Ray B Pullen, KY fold3 O-684552

Navigator: S/Sgt. Finney W Gordon, OK fold3 18162875

Co Pilot: 2nd Lt. John M Greeley, IN fold3 O-696567

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Sidney H Saltzman, PA fold3 13154470

_This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see _www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you may contact the author. Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by.”.

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php

Flight C-47A Skytrain #42-100905 - Stories of the crew and 18 Paratroopers lost on D Day June 6, 1944