Information about this photograph:

  1. Aircraft No: 42-102553
  2. Tail Letter: K
  3. Fuselage ID: N7-K
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 603rd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: LIL 8 BALL
  6. Date of Photograph: 26 July 1944
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Newman Crew
  9. Final Disposition of A/C: 26 July 1944 crashed in Nuthampstead, Lt. Herbert H. Newman Crew, all survived.
  10. Interpretive Comments:
    1. In the photo, the 2015th Fire Fighters at Nuthampstead spray foam on 42-102553 LIL 8 BALL after it crashed on take-off on a non-mission orientation flight. It overran the runway, hit a tractor, and caught fire.
    2. Details preceding the crash, how it happened and who was hurt are document on pages 75-77 of Bill Frankhouser's "WW II Odyssey", available in the 398th PX. Bill was the Navigator on the Newman crew that day. Only one man, Bernie MacKenzie was hurt.

See also:

  1. 2015th Engineer Aviation Fire Fighters Platooon - 31 October 1944

The Newman Crew on 26 July 1944 compiled via Bill Frankhouser's book. There were probably more crew but it is unclear who exactly was aboard that day:

  1. Herb Newman, Pilot
  2. Paul Deininger, Co-Pilot
  3. W. Dean Whitaker, Bombardier
  4. Bill Frankhouser, Navigator
  5. Bernie MacKenzie, Waist Gunner

Men in Photo (viewer's left to right), identifications by Bill Ahern:

  1. T/5 Lenuel M. Thomas, man on left with cap
  2. Pfc. Marion Slomzynsiki, man on right with hose

Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: Malcolm ‘Ozzie’ Osborn
  2. Photo Reference: 42-102553-N7-K_19440726
  3. Photographer: Unknown but probably 398th Base Photographer.
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Bill Ahern, Lee Anne Bradley, Bill Frankhouser, and Malcolm ‘Ozzie’ Osborn.
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.