Bank Nite Betty and Hunconscious, 397th Bridge Busters

ank Nite Betty and Hunconscious were Martin B-26 Marauder bombers of the Ninth Air Force’s 397th Bombardment Group, part of the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. The Ninth Air Force had been grounded due to serious snowfalls and cloud cover during the first week of Hitler’s massive Ardennes offensive -- what came to be known as the Battle of the Bulge -- in the coldest winter in 20 years. When the weather cleared Dec. 23, 1944, Hunconscious (from the 599th Bombardment Squadron) and Bank Nite Betty (from the 596th Bomb Squadron) were soon airborne taking part in the 397th Bridge Busters’ attack on the rail bridge in Eller, Germany. Flak and fighters brought down 10 American planes. Bank Nite Betty (42-96144) and Hunconscious (43-34430) were the first. Within 48 hours of the incident, a Missing Air Crew Report, or MACR, was completed for each of them (Bank Nite Betty: MACR 11483 and Hunconscious: MACR 11985).