8th Air Force
Command
41-23778
B-24 Liberator
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The crew of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23778) nicknamed "Jenny", of the 44th Bomb Group, return to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 29 January 1943. The insignia attached to the breast of several crew members jackets has been censored. Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American raid on Germany. Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S. Army Air Corps Carried out their first raid on Germany on Wednesday last. O.PS., the crew of the Liberator "Jenny" leaving after the U.S. raid on Germany. (Barratt's. 29/1/43).'
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B-24 Liberator 41-23778 'Lady Luck' of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned to Libya. FTR - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields whilst on TDY to the 9th AF. Pilot Rocco A Curelli. 9 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 2141/3150.
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B-24 Liberator 41-23778 'Lady Luck' of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned to Libya. FTR - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields whilst on TDY to the 9th AF. Pilot Rocco A Curelli. 9 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 2141/3150.
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B-24 Liberator 41-23778 'Jenny' 'Lady Luck' of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. Flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned to Libya. FTR - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields whilst on TDY to the 9th AF. Pilot Rocco A Curelli. 9 KIA, 1 POW, MACR 2141/3150.
Temporarily attached to 9th AF and flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned to Libya.
Failed to Return - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields whilst on TDY to the 9th AF. Pilot Rocco A Curelli. 9 KIA, 1 POW, A/C shot down by enemy fighters near Ruoti, Italy, Aug. 16, 1943. MACR 2141/3150.
Service
Units
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44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti... -
66th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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John Barcus
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Flew Ploesti raid on 1 Aug 43 as part of Felber crew, B24 #4123778 'Lady Luck' TDY 9th AF, returned safely to Libya. Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart. -
Rocco Curelli
Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. KIA in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
Deforest Ela
Military | Staff Sergeant | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
Robert Felber
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Pilot of B-24 Liberator 41-23778 'Lady Luck' whilst on TDY to 9th AF, on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, successfully returned to base in Libya. -
John Grinde
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
John Hughes
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
John Papadopulos
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
Walter Rossi
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
Raymond Shafer
Military | Staff Sergeant | Assistant Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck' -
Victor Turrou
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Attack on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF. Killed in Action (KIA) in #41-23778 'Lady Luck'
Missions
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Operation Tidal Wave
1 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B24Ds that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Assigned | Benghzi, Libya | 1 August 1943 |
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Temporary attachment to 9th AF for Ploesti oil refinery raid, returned to Libya. |
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| Failed to Return (FTR) | 85056 Ruoti PZ, Italy | 16 August 1943 |
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Failed to Return - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields whilst on TDY to the 9th AF. Pilot Rocco A Curelli. 9 KIA, 1 POW, A/C shot down by enemy fighters near Ruoti, Italy, Aug. 16, 1943. MACR 2141/3150. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 22 March 2015 17:03:41 | Al_Skiff | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 22 March 2015 16:58:47 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, person associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM Database / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:01 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 3150 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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