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B-24D - "Exterminator "- RCL - H - 41 23717
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The crew of B-24D Liberator (41-23717) nicknamed "Exterminator" of the 93rd Bomb Group, don their high altitude flight gear before a mission. 3 April 1943. In the centre is the pilot, 1st Lt. Hugh Roper, and gunner Earl Lemoine.
Image via BL Davies
Image stamped on reverse: 'passed for publication 20 Apr 1943[stamp] . 'Return to P.I.D'[stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'ETO HD 43 2859 Moore 8 Apr 43. The martian appearance of these clothes give these combat flyers an even grimmer appearance. Climbing into high altitude uniforms are the crew of a Liberator just about to leave its station in England for another mission over enemy territory.' Handwritten caption on reverse: '2508/RF 93 BG air crew suiting for mission.'
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The B-24D, 41-23717, "Exterminator", of the 330th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force.
This plane and crew were flying as element lead when it collided with another plane in its element ( 121-J ) after entering a cloud bank over Bulgaria. Both planes crashed in flames in the mountains. MACR 334
"Exterminator" Crew :
Capt. Hugh R. Roper - Pilot (KIA) - Oak City, UT,
Capt. John B. White, Jr - Navigator (KIA - Hillsboro, IL
1st Lt. Ted Brannon - Bombardier (KIA) - Coatesville, PA,
T/Sgt. Henry C. Lloyd, Jr.- Radio Operator (KIA) - Flint, MI
T/Sgt. Albert L. Lee - Tail Gunner
T/Sgt. Joseph L. Craighead - Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Earl P Lemoine - Gunner (KIA) - Moreauville, LA
S/Sgt. William A. Defreese - Waist Gunner (KIA) - Anniston, AL
Walter Stewart was not on "Exterminator" when it crashed. He is my father, Col Robert W. Stewart's cousin. Walter flew the B-24D, "Utah Man", on the Ploesti mission. 1 Aug 1943. Stewart survived the mission and the war.
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Page 47 of the 93rd Bomb Group unit history.
Many of the 8th Air Force Groups produced an unofficial unit history in the months after the war ended in Europe but before they were redeployed out of the ETO (European Theater of Operations).
Resembling a college yearbook, unit histories were an unofficial – and often tongue-in-cheek – record of the unit’s time based in the UK. They include photo montages showing different aspects of base life. Often the servicemen in the photos are unnamed. The American Air Museum hopes that by adding unit histories to the website as individual pages, the men in the photos will be identified and associated to their person entries. Many included lists of personnel and a mailing address, providing a means for servicemen to keep in contact with each other after the war. These lists are now incredibly useful records of where US airmen in England in 1945 called their home.
The B-24D Liberator, Exterminator, serial number 41-23717, originally flew with the 329th Bomb Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group and was later transferred to the 93rd's 330th Bomb Squadron, in March 1943. The first mission with the 330th Bomb Squadron was on 1 May 1943. The aircraft was flown throughout the war by pilot 1st Lieutenant Hugh R. Roper and was later lost in a mid-air collision while returning from Ploesti on 1st August 1943. MACR 334 Transferred from the 329th Bomb Squadron (RCL = P) to 330th BS (RCL = H) mid-to-late Mar 43
First 330th Bomb Squadron mission : 1 May 43
Change to RCL = H once it was in North Africa for the Ploesti mission
Lost in mid-air collision returning from Ploesti. 1 Aug 43
Service
Units
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Group
The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...
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People
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Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 491st Bomb Group
Becker was a BTG on Capt. Roper's crew in B -24 'Exterminator'. On the Ploesti raid he did not fly with his crew because of being ill. the est of the crew was lost on the Ploesti Raid. This Sergeant. Becker,491st BG, may be the same Becker as the one...
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Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
SSgt John Dee was killed in action (KIA) while on TDY to 9th Air Force for Ploesti raid in the B-24D, 4123717, EXTERMINATOR. 1 Aug 43.
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Military | Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717
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Military | Captain | Observer | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
Born on 13 April 1920, John J. Morel lived at 604 South Cherry Street, in Hammond, Louisiana. His service record lists him as single, at 5 ', 11 1/2 " tall and weighing 170 lbs at his first enlistment. At the end of his tour he weighed 160 pounds. John...
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Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) on 8/1/43 while on TDY to 9thAF for Ploesti raid in B-24 'Exterminator' 41-23717.
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Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 command Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
1st Lt. Hugh R. Roper was a B-24D bomber pilot from the 93rd Bomb Group, on TDY to the 9th Air Force in the MTO in 1943. He was killed in action (KIA) on the Ploesti bombing mission in the B-24D, 41-23717, EXTERMINATOR. 1 Aug 43.
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Missions
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1 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B-24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Transfered from 329th to 330th Bomb Squadron |
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March 1943 |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Rumania |
1 August 1943 |
Lost in mid-air collision returning from Ploesti.
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