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B-24D Liberator, 41-23817, named, 'Suzy Q'.
It flew on the Ploesti mission, commanded by Col. Leon Johnson, returning to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 43.
'Suzy Q', was shot down and lost on16 Aug 43 with Pilot Walter R. Bateman.
MACR 2445 -
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Ground personnel of the 44th Bomb Group work on the B-24D Liberator, 41-23817. Suzy Q.
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Flak damage to the tail of Pappy Moore's B-24D - 5 - CO - Code Letter L - SN # 41-23817, named, 'Suzy Q'. Howard "Pappy" Moore was the 44th Bomb Group's 67th Bomb Squadron's CO. 'Suzy Q' was a B-24 -D-5-CO # 41-23817 Code letter L . "Suzy Q' flew on the Ploesti mission commanded by Col. Leon Johnson. It was later lost on a bombing mission over Foggia, Italy. - Lost Aug 16, 1943.
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Ground personnel of the 44th Bomb Group work on a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23817) nicknamed "Suzy Q".
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B-24 Liberator #4123817 "Suzy Q". Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid returning to Libya.
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Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for 2nd Lieutenant Robert T Ellis of the 489th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman.
If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk
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The B-24D, Suzy Q, with it's Command Pilot Col. Leon Johnson, in the 44th Bombing Group the 9th Air Force. 1943
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The B-24D - 'Suzy Q' - Flying home from the bombing mission to Ploesti. This 1943 photo was taken from the B-24D Liberator bomber, 'Buzzin Bear'. This is the only known flying photo of Col. Leon Johnson's airplane, 'Suzy Q' during the mission. Note the flak damage to 'Suzy Q' s RH vertical stabilizer. August 1,1943
The B-24D, named, Suzy Q, flown by Pilot Lt. Robert I. Brown and commanded by Col. Leon Johnson, led the 44th Bomb Group on the Aug 1, 1943 Ploesti raid and was the most famous ship of the 67th Squadron. The plane was lost along with the 67th's plane, Buzzin' Bear, on 16-Aug-43, on a mission to the north airfield at Foggia, Italy. Both planes were intercepted by Me 109 fighters, and Suzy Q was last seen burning on the Italian beach believed to be Capo Stilo. 10 KIA. MACR 2361/2445
Service
Aircraft
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 41-24229, last named, Buzzin' Bear, was assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 67th Bomb Squadron in North Africa based at Benghazi Libya. Buzzin' Bear was flown by Col. William Roderick Cameron on Operation Tidal Wave...
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Units
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Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
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People
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Military | Sergeant | AR | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA) while TDY to 9th AF. B-24 #41-23817 'Suzy Q' believed to have crashed and burned on beach at Cape Stilo, Italy. WOM North Africa
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Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA) while TDY to 9th AF. B24 41-23817 'Suzy Q' believed to have crashed and burned on beach at Cape Stilo, Italy. p. 235
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #41-23817.
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Military | Major | B-24 Pilot - Controller | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Lt. William H. Brandon took part in Operation Tidal Wave, flying the B-24D Liberator, 41-23817, to Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 1943,
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA) while TDY to 9th AF. B24 41-23817 'Suzy Q' believed to have crashed and burned on beach at Cape Stilo, Italy. p. 235
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Military | Aerial Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
KIA while TDY to 9th AF. B24 41-23817 'Suzy Q' believed to have crashed and burned on beach at Cape Stilo, Italy. WOM North Africa
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Killed in Action (KIA) while TDY to 9th AF. B24 41-23817 'Suzy Q' believed to have crashed and burned on beach at Cape Stilo, Italy. WOM North Africa
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Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24D Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
2nd Lt. Ronald Lee Helder was a B-24 pilot in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 564th Bombing Squadron in WWII. He flew as Co-pilot with his friend, Command Pilot Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes, in the B-24D Lt. Helder called, Ole Kickapoo,...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Radio Operator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-23817.
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Military | Brigadier General | B-24 Command Pilot - Commanding Officer 44th Bomb Group | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Col. Leon Johnson, the commander of the 44th Bomb Group from the 8th Air Force in Britain provided superior leadership in planning and training his pilots from the 8th Air force from the U.K. to employ very low altitude flying, before and during...
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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...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Shipdham was built in 1941-1942, the first US heavy bomber airfield in the English county of Norfolk. It was a standard design, with T2-type hangars and a domestic site dispersed to the south east. Improvements were carried out to increase the number...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania |
1 August 1943 |
SUZY-Q, the most famous ship of the 67th Squadron led the Group on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid. Returned to Libya.
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Failed to Return (FTR) |
Punta Stilo, Italy |
16 August 1943 |
The plane was lost on 16-Aug-43 on a mission to the north airfield at Foggia, Italy. The plane intercepted by Me109 fighters and was last seen burning on the Italian beach believed to be Capo Stilo. 10 KIA. MACR 2361/2445
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Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya |
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67th BS, 44th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF.
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