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
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. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Disasters • War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1832.
Location. 34° 19.467′ N, 87° 0.08′ W. Marker is near
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Battleground (approx. 1˝ 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); Streight’s Raid (approx. 8.1 miles away); a different marker also named Streight’s Raid (approx. 8.1 miles away); Where does your drinking water come from? (approx. 8.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vinemont.
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 January 27, 2017. It was originally submitted on January 31, 2015, by David J Gaines of Pinson, Alabama. This page has been viewed 4,683 times since then and 612 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.
