James J. Regan served in the 552nd Bomber Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-26 Marauder #43-34318 during World War II.
At 0843 on December 25, 1944, during a combat, their plane crash on takeoff at airfield A-60 in Persan-Beaumont, Paris, France, due to a loss of power from the left engine. The plane caught fire causing the five of eight members of the crew to be killed. 2Lt Regan was one of them. His current burial place is unknown.
Extract from Sgt Loftin's report (Accident Report):
The pilot did not run the engines up for a check just before take-off. The left engine was popping when we started down the runway. The pilot hit the right brake twice on take-off, giving the impression that he was not getting normal power from his left engine. The aircraft was airborne on the first lift as we were giubg down the runway. We seemed to climb too fast. The left engine cut out when we were about 100 feet from the ground. The aircraft banked sharply to the left loosing altitude. The left wing tip dug into the ground first, then the left engine. As the fuselage struck the ground, the wreckage burst into flames. I jumped through a waist window and don't remember much of what took place afterwards.
B-26 Marauder #43-34318 crew members:
Capt Charles E. Hardy - Pilot
2Lt Wesley E. Brian - Co-Pilot
1Lt Dean P. Trigonides - Navigator
Capt Guy Pollard Baird, Jr. - Bombardier
2Lt James J. Regan - Bombardier
S/Sgt Boyce Walter Ellington - Engineer
S/Sgt Edward O. Biegelman - Radio Operator
T/Sgt Fred L. Loftin - Machine Gunner
Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net,