US Army Air Force

“Muffit 226”: a tragic fate

47th BG

Pisa Airdrome, Italy, Spring 1945: belly land of the Douglas A-20B Invader serial number 43-22580 of the 47th Bombardment Group’s 97th Bombardment Squadron, USAAF, one of the airplanes received as replacement of the A-20 Havoc. On the contrary of the most of the other 9th BS Invader, finished in all bare metal, the finish of this plane is all dark olive drab. The only full loss of a 97th Bomb Squadron’s Invader occurred on 23 April 1945 when the aircraft serial number 43-22441, an A-26B, call sign “Muffit 226”, was missed with his crew - pilot 1st Lieut. Walter J. Fassett, bombardier/navigator 2nd Lieut Clark R. Ferree, Jr, gunner S/Serg. John LeNoir, all declared MIA-Missed In Action - few after a night take-off from Pisa. According to MACR-Missed Air Crew Report 14013, at 21.45 Local Time “Muffit 226”, committed for a night intruder mission over La Spezia area, weather and visibility reported CAVU (Ceiling And Visibility Unlimited), call Pisa Tower in to be cleared to take-off. The TWR Officer in Duty, 1st Lieutenant, Air Corps, Leonard H. Ward, clear “Muffit 226” for an immediate take-off. At 21.51 Local Time “Muffit 226” call the Sector Controller “Cooler” asking for the position of “Brassneck 58” a photo-reconnaissance aircraft. “Cooler” report the “Brassneck 58” position to be North of bomb line near La Spezia. At 22.05 the Sector Controller overheard “Muffit 226” calling “Brassneck 58”. No contact was make. A no time after take-off did the Sector Controller make a fix on the position of the aircraft 43-22441. “Muffit 226” disappeared likely on the Tyrrhenian Sea for unknown reason (for reading about the 47th BG’s A-26 Invader in Italy see also www.ww2incolor.com/d/652716-3). Victor Sierra