B-24D Liberator #41-23722 'Bomerang' (coded GO-C) of the 328th BS, 93rd BG. First 8th AF Liberator to complete 50 missions. Survivor of the large raid on the Ploesti oil refinery complex. Returned safely to base. Aug 1, 1943

Master Sergeant George E Ewald, a crew chief of the 93rd Bomb Group, changes the engine of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23722) nicknamed "Bomerang". Image stamped on reverse: '50664C' [Censor no]. Handwritten caption on reverse: '[Illegible] 31 March 44 from 8 P R. War Theatre #12 (England) - maintenance. M/Sgt George C Ewald [sic] of Norfolk, Va, Bomerang's crew chief is shown putting the finishing touches on Bomerang's 16th engine change.'

Boomerang's latest crew. Back row, L-R: 1Lt. John M. Stauffacher, 1Lt. Murray Markowitz, 2Lt. Quentin L. Morris, 1Lt. Carl F. Marcussen, Front L-R T/Sgt Glen P Hartmen, T/Sgt Clare C Omley, S/Sgt Harvey L Heath, S/Sgt Frank G Blazeck, S/Sgt Kenneth W Neidenthal and S/Sgt Donald J Johnston.

"England-Hardened 8th Army veterans, recently returned to Britain, renew acquaintance with "Bomerang," a battlescarred Consolidated B-24 bomber that supported the onpressing British at Tripoli, Sfax, Sousse, Tunis, Bizerte, Messina, Palermo and Ctrone. The British saw plenty of Bomerang and his sister planes in the Mediterranean skies as Rommel was driven back into Italy. Bomerang one of the Liberators originally brought to Britain by the North Africa, Middle East, Ploesti oil fields and Austria. Having been away to war for 18 months, Bomerang is saying goodbye to the ETO, gathering up a crew of air and ground heroes and taking them back to the U.S." L-R: Pvt George Read of London, Pvt Bernard Birch of Watford, Pvt Thomas Burchew of London (holder of the Military Medal), Pvt Harry Alger of New York City, Pvt Frederick Hopkins of Fulham and David Hodson of Minchin, Hampton and 8th army platoon leader.

"Brig. General James P. Hodges, Washington, D.C., commanding officer of an air force unit, congratulates Capt. W. Stewart, Salt Lake City, Utah, pilot of the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber Bomerang while the crew looks on. The Bomerang completed 53 Missions against the Nazis and is due for a trip to the United states. 4 April 1944."

"Capt. Walter Stewart, Salt Lake City, Utah, pilot of the Consolidated B-24 'Liberator' Bomber, 'Bomerang' which has completed 53 missions in the European Theatre of operations, receives a cake from Miss Rachel Homer, American Red Cross worker, prior to departure to the United States. At the right is Lt Col George S Brown Jr an officer at the Liberators base at Hardwicke, England. 4 April 1944."

RAF Form 441A Sortie Reports for the 93rd Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave (the bombing of Ploesti), 1 August 1943.

B-24D 'Boomerang' signed photo from the crew during the war bond tour.

Page 17 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.

93rd Bomb Group formation flight. Near aircraft is Consolidated B-24D-25-CO - # 41-24226 - "Joisey Bounce," of the 330th Bomb Squadron, second aircraft is (S/N 41-24147) "The Duchess" also of the 330th. Next higher is Bomerang - # 41-23722) from the 328th. Last of all at the very top is # 42-40246 (F) "Thunder mug" also of the 328th.