42-40629 - The Scorpion

media-15374.jpeg UPL 15374 B-24D Liberator, 42-40629, "The Scorpion", in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron, with it's pilot, Capt. Kenneth M Caldwell, photo front and center with cap, and crew. Capt. Caldwell flew "The Scorpion" on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Aug 1,1943

Lt. Caldwell was shot down by FW190 fighters near Orleans, France in the B-24D, 42-41013 named, "Trouble". Caldwell and his crew were killed in action (KIA). Jan 7, 1944.

Best Web - B-24 - TROUBLE

Object Number - UPL 15374 - B-24D Liberator, 42-40629, "The Scorpion", in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron, with it's pilot, Capt. Kenneth M...

The B-24D Liberator, 42-40629, The Scorpion, in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bombardment Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission on the oil refineries, piloted by Lt. Kenneth M. Caldwell and Col. Jack Wood observing, who successfully bombed their target, and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. Both Lt. Caldwell and Col. Wood were awarded Distinguished Service Cross medals for their valor and determination in accomplishing their mission by finding and bombing their heavily defended target at Campina, Romania. August 1, 1943.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1699045
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
First Lieutenant John A. Fino, of the 44th Bomb Group with a pistol given to him by the Mayor of Oristano. Marked as Not To Be Published 25 Oct 1943. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Fortress Crewman Was Made Honorary Mayor. When the crew of a burnt-out Liberator bomber which came down near the town of Oristano, Sardinia, recovered from their narrow escape they were feted by the townspeople and one of them, 1st Lt. John A. Fino, who is of Italian descent, was made an Honorary Mayor. Associated Press
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19036088 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18118007
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31133139
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39091347
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight engineer / Top turret

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Bengazi Airfield, Wheelus Airbase

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Kickapoo
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
B-24D, 41-11819,  9th AF 98th BG 344th BS. Shot down over White IV. 1 Aug 43
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Raunchy
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
A B-24 Liberator ( serial number 41-24226) nicknamed "Joisey Bounce" of the 93rd Bomb Group in flight.
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Joisey Bounce - Utah Man
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hadley's Harem
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Capt Kenneth M Caldwell, returning safely to Libya. Flying in the Scorpion as navigator was Jack Wood, Commander of the 389th BG. As navigator he directed the whole group's formation to the target.

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 565th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, TDY 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Added detail - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40609 - The Scorpion

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Punctuation changes to airplane names - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Punctuation changes to names - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Aircraft name punctuation removed - John S Young Jr

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Halls Of Valor - Kenneth Marion Caldwell

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Halls Of Valor - Kenneth Marion Caldwell

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Hall Of Valor - Kenneth Marion Caldwell

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Halls Of Valor - General Jack Weston Wood

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Ploesti The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Ploesti The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date
ContributorDieterle
Changes
Sources

John T. Correll, "Twenty-Seven Minutes Over Ploesti," Air Force Magazine, Feb. 2015, p. 77.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes

42-40629: Gallery (2 items)