Roy Carney
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SSgt Roy E. Carney was the tail gunner on the B-24D Liberator, 41-24195, Lil Joe.
Sgt. Carney was killed in action and lost his life while on duty with the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron on Operation Tidal Wave, the daring low level bombing mission to destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 1943.
Coming in at tree top level, Sgt. Carney and the crew of, Lil Joe, successfully bombed their target refinery before being shot down as they were leaving the area.
The crew of, Lil Joe, flown by Lt. Lindley P. Hussey, were briefed to fly in the Fourth Flight attacking Ploesti's Astra Romano Refinery, code named, White IV. A leaking fuel connection in one of the bomb bay gasoline tanks, caused a substantial loss of fuel on the way to the target over the Mediterranean Sea. On it's approach to it's target, Lil Joe, was hit in the bomb bay by flak, which quickly explode in flames. With his plane burning fiercely, Lt. Hussey decided to press on in order to bomb his target. Then, after dropping his bombs, and with, Lil Joe, now engulfed in flames, he pulled his airplane up into a climb and hit the bail out claxon. At least six men jumped, with only 75 to 100 feet of altitude. Three gunners survived and were taken prisoners (POW)s. Lil Joe, crashed in a field beyond the target area and exploded in flames. Lt. Hussey and his radio operator, both badly burned and injured, were extracted from the wreckage by the Romanians, but survived, and also became POW's. Of the 5 KIA, two bodies were never identified. S/Sgt Roy Carney received the Distinguished Flying Cross posthumously for this mission. 4 POW, 5 KIA. 1 Aug 43 - MACR 222.
Sgt. Carney appears on the Tablets of the Missing at Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. His remains were never recovered or identified.
Crew of Lil Joe :
1st Lt. Lindley P. Hussey - Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald Jenkins - Co Pilot
2nd Lt. Philip Erick - Nelson Navigator
1st Lt. Alan Edward Petersen - Bombardier
TSgt. Lloyd T. Fowler - Engineer
SSgt. Roy Carney - Tail Gunner
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
Tacoma, WA | 13 August 1942 | Tacoma, Washington |
Died |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Tail Gunner of B-24 41-11886 'Lil Joe' lost on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, A/C had large fuel leak in bomb bay prior to target, pressed on and bombed target with A/C bursting into flames from leaked fuel, pilot pulled aircraft into climb to enable bail out, 6 crew bailed, 2 survived descent, Lil Joe exploded and crashed in a field, Hussey and radioman pulled from wreck badly burnt and became POW's. 4 POW, 5 KIA. MACR 222. |
Other Assigned |
1 August 1943 | Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. | |
Buried |
Tablets of the Missing Florence American Cemetery and Memorial Florence, Italy | ||
Born |
Texas |