Roy Carney

Military
media-48816.jpeg UPL 48816 PHOTO : the B-24D, Lil Joe, with a crewman, possibly, the tail gunner, SSGT. Roy Carney. - B-24D, Lil Joe, B-24-D-CO, 41-11886, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron. Left Side : A dice roll combination of 4, in craps, is referred to as a, "Little Joe", score, hence, the bomber's name, Lil Joe. Lil Joe was lost on Operation Tidal Wave. Aug 1, 1943.

Removed ALL associations which are not depicted in the image.

Object Number - UPL 48816 - PHOTO : the B-24D, Lil Joe, with a crewman, possibly, the tail gunner, SSGT. Roy Carney. - B-24D, Lil Joe, B-24-D-CO, 41-11886, in the 9th...

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

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • 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

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Lil Joe
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Little Joe
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron

Missions

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

Revisions

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ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

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FindAGrave - SSGT. Roy Carney

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ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Roy Carney

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ContributorKickapoo
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FindAGrave - Roy Carney

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ContributorKickapoo
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Roy Carney - FindAGrave

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ContributorKickapoo
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SSgt Roy Carney - FindAGrave

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Roy Carney: Gallery (1 items)