An original cadre ship acquired 28 October ‘43 and assigned to Kury’s crew who flew her overseas in December ‘43. The “Urchin” went down on 31 January ‘44 over the Aviano Airdrome, Northern Italy, as the Group Lead ship with Colonel Darr Alkire, 449th Group Commander, aboard. Colonel Alkire and 7 others were taken POW, 3 KIA. MACR 2403.
