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Marvin Neil Dugger, Marauder Man, Technical Sergeant
387th Bomb Group,
559th Bombardment Squadron
Marvin Dugger served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 until the end of
World War II in 1945. He hailed from the small town of Enid, Oklahoma, and was
one of many men drafted into military service. Marvin worked as a mechanic in
Delta Flight of the 559th Bombardment Squadron, 387th Bombardment Group, 9th Air
Force, operating in the European Theater of Operations (ETO).
After completing his training, Marvin traveled to England with the rest of the
559th Bombardment Squadron's ground echelon aboard the RMS Queen Mary (now
located in Los Angeles, California). Once he achieved the rank of Technical
Sergeant, Marvin was designated as the crew chief for a Martin B-26 Marauder,
serial number 41-31692 (TQ-Z), nicknamed the "Louisville Slugger" (later renamed
"Blivet"). He was also assigned an assistant, Sgt. Albert H. Langer.
The Louisville Slugger survived the war, completing an impressive 170 missions
by its end. While Marvin was not its crew chief for the aircraft's entire
service life, he played a critical role in its early success. At some point, the
aircraft was transferred to Technical Sergeant Schuelke, who is pictured in
front of another aircraft, "Enema Patrol." Marvin is believed to have received
one of his two Bronze Stars after Louisville Slugger achieved its 100th mission
under his care.
In early July 1944, Marvin was reassigned to B-26 Marauder 42-107844 (TQ-T),
nicknamed "Enema Patrol." This aircraft flew its first mission on June 29, 1944,
and completed 49 missions before being tragically lost on December 9, 1944. On
December 26, 1944, Marvin was awarded the Bronze Star for maintaining his
aircraft with "amazing technical skill" and ensuring no mechanical
failures—likely in recognition of his work with Enema Patrol during its 49
missions.
Afterward, Marvin was assigned B-26 Marauder 44-67844 (TQ-T), which flew its
first mission on January 1, 1945, and completed 46 missions by the end of the
war. It is likely that Marvin finished the war with this bomber.
In total, the bombers under Marvin's care completed 322 sorties. Remarkably,
only four of these missions were aborted due to mechanical issues, all of which
occurred on Blivet and involved the right engine.
387BG 559BS "ENEMA PATROL"
29 Jun 44 to 2 Dec 44 damaged at Reims/Champagne, repaired and reflew. Pilot:
Keith B Fisher
29 Jun 44 to 9 Dec 44 returning with 16 x 250lb bombs on board, in poor
visibility, caught in prop wash, crashed sixty yards short of runway, fuel
detonated 14 to 16 bombs and fuel tanks exploded killing the crew, 29 attempting
to rescue the crew and several others injured. The Assistant Engineering Officer
of the 70th Air Service Group, 53rd Air Service Squadron was killed attempting
to rescue the crew. Medical personnel, fire fighters and military police
arrived. Some of the crew were removed from the a/c and placed in the waiting
ambulance parked near the B-26. Lt Countryman took the fire hose from one of the
fire fighters and was helping to extinguish the flames while the firefighter was
putting on an asbestos suit to enter the a/c and rescue another crew member.
When the fire reached the bombs they exploded killing all crew members including
the two already in the ambulance.
1.Lt James M Altman P: 2.Lt Neil H Weldon C/P; S/Sgt's Norbert A Hans TOG;
Leonard W McDonald E/G; Craig T Hudson R/G; Sgt Jack N McKnight A/G.
(The entire crew were killed and additionally twenty officers and enlisted men
killed 559th.BS lost its commanding officer Maj Robert E Murphy, Capt Franklin L
Watters 556BS, Cpl Dale D Au 557BS, Sgt Joseph F Boch 559BS, 1.Lt Mac I Finch;
(T/5 Charles P LaVoy, Cpl Inez G Garcia, Pfc Armando R Orante 1.Lt Laurence E
Radlinger, Sgt Lester C Crabb, Pvt James C Brasington,T/5 Leo V Page, Pvt Carlos
S Perez,T/5 Harold A Nelson,T/5 Oscar R Adams, T/5 Harry A Dixon, Pfc Joseph H
Sandstrom, all of 2047FFPA) (1.Lt Robert H Countryman 70SG,1.Lt Leonard A
Clifton 1288MP COAV)
