42-40767 The Bad Penny
USAAF Photo.
Object Number - UPL 15263 - B-24 Liberator #42-40767 'The Bad Penny' 564thBS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Slated for 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, aborted on ground due to...
B-24 Liberator #42-40767 'The Bad Penny' 564thBS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Slated for 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, aborted on ground due to mechanical failure. Flew on next mission after Ploesti.
27th Aug 43, while en-route from Marrakesh to England, the Lighter crew and their aircraft disappeared, with all aboard presumed lost. A/C was attacked by German fighters over the Channel. One prop was feathered after the first pass, the aircraft losing altitude. Then the rear fuselage was badly hit; the top turret also exploding. The pilot ditched as he was too low for a bailout. Due to the rough sea the B-24 broke in two at the back end of the bomb-bay and sank quickly, approximately 65 miles southwest of Portreath. 12 KIA 3 POW. MACR 12266.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18081540
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: GC/Passenger
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31082411
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14063239
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ground Crew; Passenger
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37038977
- Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ground Crew/Passenger
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-520632
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Failed To Return [Over Water] |
65 Miles Short of Portreath | 27 August 1943 | 27th Aug 43, while en-route from Marrakesh to England, the Lighter crew and their aircraft disappeared, with all aboard presumed lost. A/C was attacked by German fighters over the Channel. One prop was feathered after the first pass, the aircraft losing altitude. Then the rear fuselage was badly hit; the top turret also exploding. The pilot ditched as he was too low for a bailout. Due to the rough sea the B-24 broke in two at the back end of the bomb-bay and sank quickly, approximately 65 miles southwest of Portreath. 12 KIA 3 POW. MACR 12266. |
|
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 564thBS, 389th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF. |
