Tony Caddell was born on February 3, 1923, in Bokchito, Oklahoma. He was the son of D.B. Caddell and Sinie Adams Caddell.

Tony served in the 862nd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on the B-24 #42-94798 during World War II. It was the very first mission for the 493rd Bomb Group, based in Debach, England, when 36 B24s took off for their target on June 6, 1944. But when they reached their objective, a road and railroad crossing in Lisieux, France, the target was obscured by clouds. The decision was made to turn the planes back without dropping their bombs.

On their way home around 10:28, at 11,000 feet, 42-94798 collided with 44-40471 piloted by Cpt Jack Cooper. Both planes crashed into the west of the English Channel. A witness stated “the right-wing of A/C (aircraft) 471 struck the tail of A/C 789. A/C 471 was seen to disintegrate, and both A/C 471 and A/C 789 were seen to disappear into the overcast. One to two chutes were seen out of both A/C 471 and A/C 789.

All men aboard the two B-24s were killed, and all were declared as Missing in Action. These 20 airmen were memorialized at the Tablets of the Missing, Brittany American Cemetery, Montjoie Saint Martin, France. But, as per MACR, Sgt Tuohy survived and was taken as a prisoner. SSgt Caddell has a cenotaph located in the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Texas.

The crew of #42-94789:
1Lt Donald L. Russell Pilot 2Lt Lester Joseph Pavel Co-Pilot 2Lt Kenneth Eugene Lebl Navigator 2lt George W Sharman Bombardier T/Sgt Roscoe Elonzo Wilson Radio Operator T/Sgt Billy Mack Hollingsworth Mechanic S/Sgt Tony Caddell Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt William Horace Smith Nose Turret Gunner S/Sgt Charles M Jr Bujtor Waist Gunner Sgt Dallas Lee Kincaid Tail Gunner

Source of information: francecrashes39-45.net, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.ww2research.com