Near Vinemont in Morgan County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The "Katy-Did" Crash

Photographed by David J Gaines, January 29, 2015

1. The "Katy-Did" Crash Marker

Inscription.
Eight U.S. Army Air Corps officers and enlisted men were killed one-fourth mile east of here near the Roundtop Community on Sunday, April 9, 1944, at 2:20 p.m. when their B-26C Martin Marauder bomber, nicknamed the “Katy-Did”, crashed nose-down, at full throttle, and exploded. The warplane was on an official flight from Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah, Georgia to Memphis, Tennessee when it encountered a severe thunderstorm. Witnesses reported that the plane reappeared from the heavy storm clouds upside down before crashing.

The victims were: Col. Lucius B. Manning, base commander, Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia; Capt. Howard L. Hardy, pilot, La Harpe, Kansas; Capt. Arthur J. Gratis, co-pilot, Seattle, Washington; Sgt. John W. Haney, engineer, Buffalo, New York; Pvt. Matthew J. Georghegan, mechanic, Bronx, New York; Pvt. John H. Bailey, radio man, Trenton, New Jersey; Sgt. James R. Smith, St. Maire, Idaho; 1st Lt. Hugh Williams, Jr., Megehee, Arkansas.

Erected 2014 by Alabama Tourism Department.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • War, World II. In addition, it is included in the Alabama Tourism Department series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1944.

Location.

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34° 19.467′ N, 87° 0.08′ W. Marker is near Vinemont, Alabama, in Morgan County. It is on University of North Alabama Highway (Alabama Route 157 at milepost 19), 0.4 miles south of State Crusher Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Vinemont AL 35179, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Battleground (approx. 1½ miles away); Cedar Plains Christian Church (approx. 2.8 miles away); McKendree Cemetery and the Massey Community / Charles Christopher Sheats 1839-1904 (approx. 3.4 miles away); Original Falkville Town Hall Building / Falkville Water Tower (approx. 6.2 miles away); Battle of Day’s Gap (approx. 6.6 miles away); a different marker also named Dave Albritton (approx. 7.7 miles away); Streight’s Raid (approx. 8.1 miles away); a different marker also named Streight’s Raid (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vinemont.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Dave Albritton (was approx. 7.7 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . Cullman Times article about marker dedication. (Submitted on January 25, 2017, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.)

Photographed by David J Gaines, January 29, 2015

2. The "Katy-Did" Crash Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 20, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2015, by David J Gaines of Pinson, Alabama. This page has been viewed 11,602 times since then and 650 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 31, 2015, by David J Gaines of Pinson, Alabama. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.