B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator, 42-40071, named, Margaret Ann II, in the 68th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force. Flown by Lt. Coleman Whitaker on the Ploesti raid, returning to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug, 43. Left in Tunis when the 44th Bomb Group returned to Shipdham, Britain, and transferred to the MTO where it was recorded in the 716th Bomb Squadron, the 449th Bomb Group, and the 15th Air Force, on 12 Nov 44, as war weary.
Ground crew of the 44th Bomb Group change the engines of the B-24D Liberator serial number, 42-40071, named 'Margaret Ann II'. Image via Colonel William R. Cameron. Handwritten caption on reverse : "Second trip to NA 10/43."
The B-24D Liberator, 42-40071, named, Margaret Ann II, was assigned to the 8th Air Force, TDY to the 9th Air Force in North Africa, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 68th Bomb Squadron and was flown by Lt. Coleman Whitaker on the Ploesti mission, returning to Benghazi, Libya. RTB. Aug 1, 1943.
Margaret Ann II, was left in Tunis, Tunisia, when the 44th Bomb Group returned to Shipdham, Great Britain, and was transferred to the MTO where it was recorded in the 716th Bomb Squadron, the 449th Bomb Group, of the 15th Air Force, on Nov 12, 1944, declared as war weary.
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...
Squadron
Military | Technical Sergeant | 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 42-40071.
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Military | Sergeant | 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 42-40071.
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40071.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Engineer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40071.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Assigned to 68BS, 44BG, 8AF USAAF. TDY to 9AF for Ploesti raid. Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1-Aug-43, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40071.
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
On 3 January 1943 in B-24D 41-23806 'Bat Out of Hell' while serving as Tail Gunner the aircraft crashed south-west of Haverfordwest returning from target U/B yards (submarine) at St. Nazaire, France. Fuel shortage caused the crash. Hospitalized and...
Military | Master Sergeant | 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 42-40071.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40071.
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Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Lt. Coleman Whitaker volunteered and served as an RAF pilot several months before Pearl Harbor. Later, he transferred back to the U.S.A.A.F. and took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti, flying the B-24D Liberator, 42-40071, Margaret Ann...
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...
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...
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Survived Ploesti | Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 |
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Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid returning to Libya. |
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| Assigned | Benghazi, Libya | |
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68th BS, 44th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF. |
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| Assigned | Benghazi, Libya | |
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716th BS, 449th BG, 15th AF. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 19 November 2021 06:02:06 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
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Details added. - Kickapoo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 October 2021 14:35:17 | Kickapoo | Changes to place associations |
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Places. - Kickapoo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 October 2021 14:33:32 | Kickapoo | Changes to markings, description and place associations |
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40071 - Margaret Ann II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 August 2021 11:50:09 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames and description |
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Punctuation. - Kickapoo |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 April 2021 17:48:26 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40771 - 'Margaret Ann II' |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 April 2021 17:45:31 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40771 - 'Margaret Ann II' |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 April 2020 10:52:38 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to description |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 09 April 2015 15:44:29 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, mission associations and media associations |
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