The B-24D, named, Lil Joe, 41-11886, was flown by Pilot Lt. Lindley Hussey on Operation Tidal Wave to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Lil Joe, was shot down and lost on the Ploesti mission. FTR. On approach to it's target, Lil Joe, was hit by flak in one of it's 400 gallon extra bomb bay gasoline tanks, and caught on fire from a large fuel leak. It's pilot, Lt. Hussey, pressed on and bombed his target with his burning airplane trailing flames from it's leaking gasoline tank. After dropping his bombs, Hussey pulled, Lil Joe, up into climb to enable a bail out for his crew. Six crewmen bailed out. But, only two survived their descent. SSgt Roy Carney, the tail gunner, was killed. KIA. Lil Joe, crashed in a field and exploded in flames. Lt. Hussey and his radioman were pulled from the wrecked aircraft badly burned, but survived their burns and became POW's. 4 POW. 5 KIA. A/C failed to return. FTR. 1 Aug, 1943. MACR 222.

Note : the B-24D, Lil Joe, 41-11886, lost over Ploesti, should not be confused with another B-24D in the MTO, named, similarly, Little Joe, with the serial number, 41-24195, which was also in the 9th Air Force, and the 98th Bomb Group, and flew on Operation Tidal Wave, returning safely to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43.

Service

Events

Event	Location	Date
Failed To Return FTR	Ploiești, Romania	1 August 1943
B-24 #4111886 '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, pilot Lt Hussey and radioman pulled from wreck badly burnt and became POW's. 4 POW, 5 KIA. MACR 222.
Assigned
345th BS 98th BS, 9th AF.