42-40662 - Black Magic

media-15227.jpeg UPL 15227 B-24D Liberator, 42-40662, Black Magic, 415th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on the Ploesti mission, returning safely to Benghazi, Libya. Later shot down on a mission to Regensburg-Obertruabling. 22 Feb 44. 10 POW. MACR 2588

Punctuation removed from aircraft names for uniformity and clarity. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 15227 - B-24D Liberator, 42-40662, Black Magic, 415th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on the Ploesti mission, returning safely to Benghazi, Libya. Later shot...

The B-24D Liberator, 42-40662, Black Magic, was in the 415th BS, the 98th BG, and the 9th AF. It flew on the Ploesti mission piloted by Lt. Dwight D. Patch, returning safely to Benghazi, Libya (RTB). It was later shot down by an ME-110 on a mission to Regensburg-Obertruabling, flown by Pilot Lt. Donald E Malas. Crash site : Lhenice, Czechoslovakia. 10 POW. 22 Feb 44. MACR 2588.



Crew: 1st Lt. Donald E. Malas Pilot, 2nd Lt. Erwin N Brady Copilot, 1st Lt. Horace L. Williams Nav, 1st Lt. Charles H. Hawley, Bombardier, TSgt Jesse C. Hart Radio Operator, TSgt.Merl Q. Vanderhoof Flight Eng, SSgt Saul Schwartz Top Turret, SSgt Ralph V. Tropeano Waist gun, SSgt. John G. Brinkman Tail gun, SSgt. Wladyslaw C. Dabek Waist gun.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid piloted by Dwight D Patch, returning safely to Libya.

Other

Failed To Return FTR

Lhenice, Czech Republic 22 February 1944 Shot down by an ME-110 on a mission to Regensburg-Obertruabling. 22 Feb 44, Pilot Donald E. Malas. 10 POW. MACR 2588.

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 415th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2588 / http://www.freewebs.com

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2588 / http://www.freewebs.com

42-40662: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 15227 - B-24D Liberator, 42-40662, Black Magic, 415th BS...

Object number: UPL 15231 - The B-24 Liberator, serial number, 42-63758, named...