42-40753

media-46171.jpeg UPL 46171 Command Pilot Pete Hughes' and Copilot Ronald Lee Helder's B-24D, 42-40753, that Lt. Helder called, Ole Kickapoo. SN, 42-40753, crashed & burned at the Prahova dry riverbed valley at Campina, Romania, after flying through a wall of flames approaching their target refinery at Campina, Romania. The two pilots, Lt. Hughes, Lt. Helder, and all but two of their crew, were killed in action ( KIA) in this crash on Operation Tidal Wave. For his actions on the Ploesti mission, Lloyd Hughes was awarded the nation's highest honor, The Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously. For his actions on the mission, Lt. Ronald Helder was awarded the nation's second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, also posthumously, for his own valor, sacrifice and absolute determination to attack and bomb his target refinery at Campina, Romania, without any consideration for his own life and safety. August 1, 1942.

Details added. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 46171 - Command Pilot Pete Hughes' and Copilot Ronald Lee Helder's B-24D, 42-40753, that Lt. Helder called, Ole Kickapoo. SN, 42-40753, crashed & burned...

The B-24D, 42-40753, was in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bombardment Group, "The Sky Scorpions", and the 564th Bomb Squadron, in England. It was flown by 2nd Lt. Lloyd "Pete" Hughes, his pilot 2nd Ronald Lee Helder, on Operation Tidal Wave, the large bombing raid to destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, in 1943. Pilot Lt. Lloyd Hughes was killed in action (KIA) after he flew his B-24D bomber, 42-40753, through a wall of flames in front of him, at Campina, Romania, instead of flying around or, even over it, causing his B-24 to catch on fire and crash, virtually insuring the loss of his own life and those of his crewmen, minus two crewmen who survived the airplane crash, badly burned, but recovered from their burns and injuries to return to duty after recovering from their injuries and later being rescued from captivity in Ploesti, Romania, by the US Army Air Force in 1944. (8-KIA. 2 WIA- POW-RTD. The aircraft was lost as Lt. Hughes was attempting to bomb his target, Target Red, at Campina, north of Ploesti. Both pilots and all but two of the crew were killed in action in the crash of their B-24. Lt. Hughes was posthumously awarded the Medal Of Honor for his leadership, skill, and determination to continue leading the other B-24s behind him on his bomb run into their targets. He continued his approach to his target after his airplane took two direct devastating flak hits that tore open the two extra fuel tanks in his bomb bay and his left wing tanks. This caused streaming geysers of aviation gasoline fuel to blow out into the airplane's slipstream from his left wing and fuselage. Hughes knew very well  that continuing to fly his plane to the Campina Refinery area at very low  altitude through the flames ahead of him, would probably set his plane on fire. But, he elected to continue flying toward his target waypoints at extremely low altitude, ignoring his own safety in order to accomplish his mission. Minutes later, he flew straight through a wall of flames in front of him that was higher than his airplane's altitude, and between Hughes and his target, inside a box of flames all around him, from the already burning oil tanks at his target refinery in the Campina area. Still, Hughes could have elected to pull up or deviate and turn away from the fires ahead of him to avoid the almost sure destruction of his airplane, yet he deliberately flew his Liberator bomber into the flames in front of him and in the way to his target. His ship was immediately, “... turned into a blowtorch" as later written by his good friend, Major Philip Ardery, flying slightly behind Hughes in his own B-24. Still, Hughes flew straight on, his bomber streaming fuel vapors and engulfed  in flames, as Gen. Ardery, was watching his plane from behind in wonder, still hoping his friend, “Pete”, would pull up and avoid the flames ahead of them. Yet, as he watched in horror, Hughes' continued flying dead straight into the wall of fire, which set his plane completely aflame, in front of Phil Ardery. Hughes' own plane immediately began streaming long sheets of flames out of it's wings and bomb bay, "... like a blowtorch", wrote Ardery, from the burning gasoline and gasoline vapors streaming out behind Hughes' plane. Still, ignoring his own personal danger, Hughes and his copilot, Lt. Ron Helder, continued on their low level bomb run until they and their  bombardier, Lt. John McLoughlin, dropped their bombs, spot on, into their targets at the Campina Refinery. Only, then, as Lt. Hughes began pulling away from the target, his airplane still burning fiercely, did he attempted to pull his plane up into a shallow climb to give his crewmen a last chance to try to bail out. Then, he appeared to try to slow his burning airplane and to bring it down for a crash landing. At first, it looked as if Lt. Hughes just might be able to pull off a landing in the dry Prahovah River bed valley ahead of him, when, his B-24's LH wing's spars failed from the heat of the fire. The wing folded and separated from the aircraft, with the plane, then, cartwheeling into the ground. Of the ten men aboard his B-24, Lt. Hughes, Ron Helder, and four other crewmen were killed instantly. Two more made it out of the burning wreckage, but died of their wounds within days (8-KIA). Two other crewmen survived the crash and their injuries, and lived on to became prisoners of war (2 WIA-POW-RTS).                                 ~                Lloyd "Pete" Hughes' tragic death left a grieving young wife and family back home, who were immensely proud of him and his copilot Lt. Ronald Helder, for their brave determination and dedication to carry out their duty, and for the deliberate personal sacrifice they both made, yet still grief stricken for the loss of their beloved husband and son.                                                                                      ~                Lloyd Hughes' country acknowledged and honored him posthumously with the highest military medal they could give, The Congressional Medal of Honor. All of Lloyd Hughes' aircrewmen, both living and dead, were awarded the second highest medals their country could give them, the Distinguished Service Cross medal for their valor, bravery and the extreme sacrifices they also made for their country, their families, and for freedom.                                                                                                                                                                                          ~            The greatest man who ever lived, once said,  “No man has love greater than this, that he should give his life in behalf of his friends."  ~  Certainly, that statement would also apply, in principle, to imperfect men like Lt. Lloyd Hughes, Lt. Ronald Helder, their crew, and the thousands and millions of men and women, like them, who were willing to give, and who did give, everything they had, including their lives, for their friends, their loved ones, their countrymen, and for their freedom.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        ~         Aircraft, 42-40753 -  shot down and lost on, Operation Tidal Wave, over Campina, Romania. Aircraft Failed To Return (FTR).  (8-KIA) (2-WIA-POW).     1 Aug 1943.  - MACR 157 - Pilot Lloyd H. Hughes - Copilot Ronald Lee Helder

B-24D - 42-40753 ~ Lt. Lloyd Hughes ~ Pilot And Air Crew 1943  :

~ Pilot : 2nd Lt Lloyd H. Hughes, Jr. KIA : Congressional Medal of Honor, posthumously
~ Co-Pilot : 2nd Lt Ronald L. Helder. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously
~ Navigator : 2nd Lt Sidney A. Pear. KIA  : Died of wounds - August 6, 1943, surgery in hospital, Campina, Rumania. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously
~ Bombardier : 1st Lt John A. McLoughlin. KIA  :  Died of wounds on August 3, 1943. Surgery in hospital, Campina, Rumania  :  Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously
~ Engineer/Top Turret Gunner : T/Sgt Joseph E. Mix. KIA  : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously
~ Radio Operator : T/Sgt Louis N. Kase. KIA  : Distinguished Service Cross
   posthumously
~ Waist Gunner : S/Sgt Malcolm C. Dalton. KIA  :  Distinguished Service Cross
   posthumously
~ Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Edmond H. Smith. POW   : Distinguished Service Cross
~ Tail Gunner: S/Sgt Thomas A. Hoff. POW  :  Distinguished Service Cross
~ Tunnel Gunner: Sgt Avis K. Wilson. KIA  :  Distinguished Service Cross, posthumously

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15045876 / 0-325990
  • Highest Rank: Major General
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 96th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36264953
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-728838
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37038892 / O-740807
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

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: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Scorpion
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

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Removed extra info in the "Nicknames" field.

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot : A Memoir of World War II  by  Philip Ardery

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 Bomber Pilot : A Memoir of World War II  by  Philip Ardery

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot : A Memoir of World War II  by   Philip Ardery

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Bomber Pilot  -  A Memoir of WWII  -  by Philip Ardery.  Lloyd Hughes.  P. 59, 60, 62, 67, , 70, 104-6, 120, 111, 136, 223.                                                        

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE   1940  -  1947    ~  The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.   Chapter 2 :  1942 --- The First Full Year of Combat. Page 103 

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Bomber Pilot  -  A Memoir of WWII  -  by Philip Ardery                                                             

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE   1940  -  1947    ~  The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.   Chapter 2 :  1942 --- The First Full Year of Combat. Page 103 

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Bomber Pilot  -  A Memoir of WWII  -  by Philip Ardery                                                             

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE   1940  -  1947    ~  The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.   Chapter 2 :  1942 --- The First Full Year of Combat. Page 103 

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot  -  A Memoir of WWII  -  by Philip Ardery                                                             

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE   1940  -  1947    ~  The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.   Chapter 2 :  1942 --- The First Full Year of Combat. Page 103 

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot  -  A Memoir of WWII  -  by Philip Ardery                                                             

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE   1940  -  1947    ~  The History of USAAF Aircraft Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.   Chapter 2 :  1942 --- The First Full Year of Combat. Page 103 

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ContributorKickapoo
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Into The Fire   -  Duane Schultz     --     USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE  1941  -  1947   -   The History of USAAF Markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors   -   Robert D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.  Chapter 2: 1942    The First Full Year of Combat.   Page 102, 103, 

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Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B24BestWeb

http://www.b24bestweb.com › olekickapoo2                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941  - 1947. p. 103.   -   Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer

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Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  B24BestWeb

http://www.b24bestweb.com › olekickapoo2                                                                                                                                                                                                                   ~   USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941  - 1947. p. 103.   -   Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer

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ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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Additional wording and informational changes. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Wording and information changes. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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ContributorKickapoo
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The Great Ground-Air battle Of 1 August, 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot - General Philip Ardery

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ContributorKickapoo
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Letter written by Ronald Lee Helder in the possession of his family, shared with permission to the Tidal-Wave forum online.

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ContributorRajordan
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Letter written by Ronald Lee Helder in the possession of his family, shared with permission to the Tidal-Wave forum online.

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

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

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

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ContributorKickapoo
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The Great Ground-Air battle of 1 August 1943 -- James dugan & Carroll Stewart

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ContributorKickapoo
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General Philip Ardery -- We Were Pilots

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II -- Philip Ardery

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ContributorKickapoo
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Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II -- Philip Ardery

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Black Sunday -- Michael Hill

42-40753: Gallery (2 items)