James E Turner

Military

Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Crew member of B-24 41-11886 'Lil Joe' lost on 1-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 burned and became POW's. 4 POW, 5 KIA. MACR 222.



Awards: DFC, AM, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

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

Aircraft

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

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Fort Bliss, El Paso, TX 26 June 1942 Fort Bliss, el Paso, Texas

Other

Prisoner Of War (POW)

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Crew member of B-24 41-11886 'Lil Joe' lost on 1-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.

Based

Assigned

Benina 1 August 1943 Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Born

Texas

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes