Sheldon Finder
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 14894 - B-24 Liberator #42-40778 'Southern Comfort' flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya. Lost on 16 Aug 1943 mission to...
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40778.
Austin’s crew was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the 1 Aug 1943 low-level raid under G.O. #90, Hqrs. Ninth Air Force, Sept. 16, 1943, yet for some unknown reason, amendments revoked the DFC, then awarded the DFC for the raid under GO #150, Hq. 9th Air Force, December 30, 1943. There was some confusion as to whether the DFCs were a basic award or an Oak Leaf Cluster on G.O. #90, so this drove the amendments and some of their award cards are different.
On August 16, 1943, was shot down in 'Southern Comfort' 42-40778 on a mission to Foggia, IT while temporarily assigned to the 9th AAC. The plane caught fire and pilot Austin had to give the bail out order. 8 crew members became Prisoner of War (POW)s and 2 were Killed in Action (KIA).
Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- 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: 13020171 / O-793711
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19094699 / O-740092
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36008454 / O-733298
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14068817 / 0-795238
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 06294273
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Southern Comfort
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
10 March 1941 | Chicago, Illinois | |
|
Other Killed in action |
16 August 1943 | ||
|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois |
Revisions
NARA files for Lt. Finder reflect DFC, Purple Heart and AM with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He earned the ADSM based on entry date, the ACM for continued service and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star. Added bio data as well.
Find a Grave data
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56308828/sheldon-finder
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Webb Todd, 'Ploesti' by Dugan & Stewart, 44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 114-6