42-40767 The Bad Penny

media-15263.jpeg 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 mechanical failure. Flew on next mission after Ploesti. August 27, 1943, while en-route from Marrakesh to England, the Lighter crew and their aircraft disappeared, with all 15 aboard presumed lost.

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

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18036992
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31152328
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 522724
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-735932
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14120849
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner

Missions

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.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 12266 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-40767: Gallery (3 items)