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42-40776

B-24 Liberator

  • The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Pilot Robert L Wright and crew. Flew on Ploesti oil refinery mission, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. Probably taken in the days after the Ploesti mission. Note, the last bomb in the mission tally is laid on its side. This is the Ploesti mission marker, as they flew so low, they laid it on the target rather than dropped it !!

    The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Pilot Robert L Wright and crew. Flew on Ploesti oil refinery mission, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. Probably taken in the days after the Ploesti mission. Note, the last bomb in the mission tally is laid on its side. This is the Ploesti mission marker, as they flew so low, they laid it on the target rather than dropped it !!

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  • B-24 Liberator, 42-40746, Ole Irish, and crew. Flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning to Benghazi, Libya, on three engines. Lt. Robert Wright and his crew flying off Ole Irish's wing in, Old Blister Butt, saw his friend, Lt. Frank McLaughlin and his crew were in trouble and alone, and slowed down to escort and cover them all the way south to the Turkish coast. They all made it home to Benghazi safely. Another one of Ole Irish's three good engines quit while taxiing back in from the runway, completely out of gasoline. RTB. 1 Aug 43.

    B-24 Liberator, 42-40746, Ole Irish, and crew. Flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning to Benghazi, Libya, on three engines. Lt. Robert Wright and his crew flying off Ole Irish's wing in, Old Blister Butt, saw his friend, Lt. Frank McLaughlin and his crew were in trouble and alone, and slowed down to escort and cover them all the way south to the Turkish coast. They all made it home to Benghazi safely. Another one of Ole Irish's three good engines quit while taxiing back in from the runway, completely out of gasoline. RTB. 1 Aug 43.

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  • B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, named, Old Blister Butt, in the 8th AF, the 389th BG, and the 564th BS. Pilot Robert L. Wright and crew. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Maj Howard J. LaLonde is 3rd from left, rear row.

    B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, named, Old Blister Butt, in the 8th AF, the 389th BG, and the 564th BS. Pilot Robert L. Wright and crew. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Maj Howard J. LaLonde is 3rd from left, rear row.

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  • Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 389th BG, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, en route to bomb German installations, date unknown. B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, H, Old Blister Butt, 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, originally assigned to the 328th BS, 93rd BG, in the 8th AF. Later transferred to the 406th BG, 801st BS for

    Consolidated B-24 Liberators of the 389th BG, 2nd Air Division, 8th Air Force, en route to bomb German installations, date unknown. B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, H, Old Blister Butt, 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, originally assigned to the 328th BS, 93rd BG, in the 8th AF. Later transferred to the 406th BG, 801st BS for "Carpetbagger" missions.

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  • B-24D Liberator #42-40776 'H' 'Old Blister Butt' 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Originally - 93rd BG / 328th BS (N), Transferred - 389th BG / 564th BS (YO H), Later Transferred - 389th BG / 566th BS (RR K+) Name changed to WIDOW (B-24DSA-95 CO) 8 801(P) 406 / 492 858, Salvaged war-weary 29 May 45 at Langford Lodge, North Ireland.

    B-24D Liberator #42-40776 'H' 'Old Blister Butt' 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. Originally - 93rd BG / 328th BS (N), Transferred - 389th BG / 564th BS (YO H), Later Transferred - 389th BG / 566th BS (RR K+) Name changed to WIDOW (B-24DSA-95 CO) 8 801(P) 406 / 492 858, Salvaged war-weary 29 May 45 at Langford Lodge, North Ireland.

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  • Nose art of B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, in the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force. Old Blister Butt's pilot was Lt. Robert L. Wright on the Ploesti oil refinery mission, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. Lt. Wright's navigator's wife's name, Glenda, appears just below Lt. Howard LaLonde's navigator's station window.

    Nose art of B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, in the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force. Old Blister Butt's pilot was Lt. Robert L. Wright on the Ploesti oil refinery mission, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. Lt. Wright's navigator's wife's name, Glenda, appears just below Lt. Howard LaLonde's navigator's station window.

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  • B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, YO, RCL H, Old Blister Butt, flown by Lt. Robert L. Wright, in the 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.

    B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, YO, RCL H, Old Blister Butt, flown by Lt. Robert L. Wright, in the 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya.

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  • B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, was originally in the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force. It flew on Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. It was later renamed, Widow. Originally - 93rd BG / 328th BS (N) Transferred - 389th BG / 564th BS (YO H) Later Transferred - 389th BG / 566th BS (RR K+) Name changed to Widow - (B-24DSA-95 CO) 8 801(P)/492 406/858 Turned in between 6 Nov & 6 Dec 44, recorded obsolescent 5 Jan 45 and recorded 29 May 45 as having been salvaged. Info Contributor - Tom Brittan

    B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, was originally in the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force. It flew on Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. It was later renamed, Widow. Originally - 93rd BG / 328th BS (N) Transferred - 389th BG / 564th BS (YO H) Later Transferred - 389th BG / 566th BS (RR K+) Name changed to Widow - (B-24DSA-95 CO) 8 801(P)/492 406/858 Turned in between 6 Nov & 6 Dec 44, recorded obsolescent 5 Jan 45 and recorded 29 May 45 as having been salvaged. Info Contributor - Tom Brittan

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  • Major Howard J. LaLonde - The Navigator on the B-24D, Stinger, (TDY) in the 98th Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave. 1 Aug 43. Major LaLonde had previously been part of Lt. Robert Wright's crew on, Old blister Butt.

    Major Howard J. LaLonde - The Navigator on the B-24D, Stinger, (TDY) in the 98th Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave. 1 Aug 43. Major LaLonde had previously been part of Lt. Robert Wright's crew on, Old blister Butt.

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The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, was originally deployed to Alconbury, U.K. in the 8th Air Force. It was later redeployed (TDY), as part of the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 564th Bomb Squadron, to Benghazi, Libya. Flown by Pilot Lt. Robert L. Wright, and his crew, Old Blister Butt, flew on the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Campina, north of Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 1943
On Leaving the target area, Robert Wright and his crew saw their friends in the B-24D, Ole Irish, in trouble and limping away from the Campina refinery area with one engine destroyed by flak, streaming vapor and smoke. Lt. Wright made the decision to slow down and fly as fighter cover for his buddies, and escorted them all the way to the Turkish coast and relative safety. Both planes, Ole Irish, and, Old Blister Butt, returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 1943.

Later, after returning to Britain, Old blister Butt's new crew renamed it, Widow, with the same nose art.

Originally - 328th Bomb Squadron (N), 93rd BG, 8th Air Force.
Transferred - 564th Bomb Squadron (YO H), 389th Bomb Group. 8th Air Force.
Transferred - 566th Bomb Squadron (RR K+), 389th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.

Name changed to, Widow, (B-24D-SA-95 CO) 406th Bomb Squadron, 801st (P) Bomb Group and to the 858th Bomb Squadron, the 492nd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force for "Carpetbagger" missions.

Salvaged war weary at Langford Lodge, North Ireland. 29 May 45

Service

Aircraft

  • 41-11817 - Stinger

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D Liberator, 41-11817, named, Stinger, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, mission to the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, flown by it's pilot for the mission, Lt. Andrew Opsata, it's copilot, Lt. Louis R. Quaglino, with their Bombardier, Lt....

  • 42-40746 - Ole Irish

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D Liberator, 42-40746, named, Ole Irish, was piloted by Lt. Frank McGlaughlin and Copilot Lt. Lee Slessor, from the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, based at Hethel, Britain. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to...

  • 42-40776 - Old Blister Butt - Widow

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, was originally deployed to Alconbury, U.K. in the 8th Air Force. It was later redeployed (TDY), as part of the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 564th Bomb Squadron, to Benghazi, Libya. Flown...

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Units

  • 389th Bomb Group

    389th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...

  • 801st Bomb Group

    801st Bomb Group

    Group
    The 801st Bomb Group was established as part of the Eighth Air Force in late March 1944 to carry out 'Carpetbagger' missions. These were night missions over France and other parts of occupied Europes to support resistance forces by dropping in agents,...

  • 93rd Bomb Group

    93rd Bomb Group

    Group
    The 93rd Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 1 Mar 42 at Barksdale Field, Louisiana. On 15 May 42. the Group moved to Ft. Myers, Florida, to continue advanced flight training and also to fly antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. They...

  • 492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers

    492nd Bomb Group Carpetbaggers

    Group
    The 492nd Bomb Group, after flying similar missions to other heavy bomb groups until the late summer of 1944, took up 'Carpetbagger' missions, transporting agents, supplies and propaganda leaflets to southern France. The Group was taking on the role of...

  • 328th Bomb Squadron

    328th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 406th Bomb Squadron

    406th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 564th Bomb Squadron

    564th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

  • 566th Bomb Squadron

    566th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron
    Constituted 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec. 1942. Activated on 24 Dec. 1942. Inactivated on 13 Sept. 1945. Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air...

  • 858th Bomb Squadron

    858th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • David Altshuler

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40776.

  • Henry Gamelin

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #42-40776.

  • Frank Jacobs

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #42-40776. ...

  • Howard LaLonde

    Military | Major | B-24D Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    Major Howard J. LaLonde was a B-24 navigator, originally assigned and deployed to the 389th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force in Hethel, Britain in Lt. Robert Wright's crew in, Old Blister Butt. He was, then, detached and deployed (TDY) to the 415th...

  • George Makin

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40776.

  • James McClain

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
    Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 42-40776. ...

  • Frank McLaughlin

    Military | Major | B-24 Command Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
    Lt. Frank B. McLaughlin took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the large bombing raid on the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, as Command Pilot flying the B-24D Liberator, bomber, 42-40746, named, Ole Irish. Lt. McLaughlin in Ole Irish, took a number of...

  • Andrew Opsata

    Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
    Lt. Andrew Opsata was a B-24D Command pilot who flew the B-24D Liberator, 41-11817, Stinger, with his Copilot Lt. Louis Quaglino, and Bombardier Lt. Don Di Coscoe, on Operation Tidal Wave, assigned to the 389th Bomb Group, the 8th Air Force,...

  • John Ritchie

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
    12 July 1943 TDY to 9th AF, B24 42-40697 was hit by flak before target at Reggio Marshalling Yards. Diverted to recently captured area of Sicily crash landing NW of Pachino. Canadian unit transported them to a friendly base. Crew originally reported...

  • Fred Sayre

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
    Lt. Fred Sayre was Lt. Robert Lee Wright's copilot, flying the B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, on Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti. He bombed his target refinery and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 August 1943, ...

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Missions

  • Operation Tidal Wave

    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

  • Alconbury

    Military site : airfield
    Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for RAF Upwood and Wyton and was used by RAF Squadrons: Nos. 15, 40 and 156. In preparation for the arrival of American heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. When...

  • Langford Lodge

    Military site : airfield
    Planned to be a Satellite Landing Ground for No. 23 Maintenance Unit at RAF Aldergrove, Langford Lodge was selected in October 1941 to be developed as an air deport for the maintenance and repair of USAAF aircraft. A scheme was devised whereby the...

  • North Pickenham

    Military site : airfield
    Built comparatively late during 1943-44 as an Eighth Air Force bomber base, North Pickenham was rather cramped as an airfield site so the main runway was shorter than typical. It had three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2...

  • Berca

    Military site : airfield

  • Lete

    Military site : airfield

Events

Event Location Date
Survived Ploesti Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943

Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Robert L Wright, returning safely to Libya.
Assigned Alconbury AAF 102

328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF.
Assigned Benghazi, Libya

564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF.
Assigned

566th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF.
Assigned North Pickenham, AAF 143

Name changed to 'Widow' (B-24DSA-95 CO) 406th BS, 801st(P) BG / 858th BS, 492nd BG, 8th AF for "Carpetbagger" missions.
Salvaged RAF Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland

Salvaged war-weary 29 May 45 at Langford Lodge, North Ireland
Nicknames
- Old Blister Butt - Widow
Production block number
B-24-D-95-CO / B-24-D-SA-95-CO
Manufacturer
Consolidated
Markings and paint scheme/livery

The B-24D, 42-40766, originally named, Old Blister Butt, and also, Widow, was painted the U.S. Army's standard olive drab color, with the standard light grey camouflage color on it's lower surfaces. It's name, Old Blister Butt, was painted on it's LH forward nose section under a picture of a naked lady riding a falling bomb and guiding it with a set of bridle reins. A later crew in the U.K. removed the name, Old blister butt, and replaced it with the name, Widow, but left the naked lady riding the falling bomb intact. The airplane's insignias were white stars on blue roundels with yellow surrounds around the roundels. Back in the U.K. the airplane's RCLs and squadron letters changed several times, as it was reassigned to different squadrons.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
15 June 2022 10:30:11 Al_Skiff Changes to unit associations
Sources

http://www.freewebs.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://home.comcast.net / http://www.fold3.com
Date Contributor Update
15 June 2022 09:38:51 Kickapoo Changes to production block number, nicknames and markings
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40766 - Old Blister Butt - Widow
Date Contributor Update
17 May 2022 12:50:22 Al_Skiff Changes to unit associations
Sources

http://www.freewebs.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://home.comcast.net / http://www.fold3.com
Date Contributor Update
01 October 2021 22:38:52 Kickapoo Changes to person associations
Sources

Added detail. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
01 October 2021 12:02:30 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Added detail. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2021 05:07:31 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Airbase change. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2021 05:04:20 Kickapoo Changes to markings
Sources

Punctuation. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2021 04:59:36 Kickapoo Changes to production block number, nicknames, markings, description and place associations
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old Blister Butt
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2021 04:27:59 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old Blister Butt
Date Contributor Update
26 September 2021 14:48:54 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Details added. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
17 September 2021 16:23:02 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Spelling, wording. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
17 September 2021 16:19:02 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Wording, spacing. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
17 September 2021 16:16:10 Kickapoo Changes to description and aircraft associations
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old Blister Butt - Widow
Date Contributor Update
17 September 2021 15:51:11 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old Blister butt - Widow
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2021 18:41:12 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42- 40776 - Old Blister Butt
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2021 03:57:41 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 41-11817 - Stinger
Date Contributor Update
15 September 2021 03:32:34 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old blister Butt
Date Contributor Update
14 September 2021 17:19:44 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40775 - Old Blister Butt
Date Contributor Update
28 April 2015 18:09:22 Al_Skiff Changes to unit associations and mission associations
Sources

http://www.freewebs.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://home.comcast.net / http://www.fold3.com
Date Contributor Update
25 April 2015 18:45:45 Al_Skiff Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events and media associations
Sources

http://www.freewebs.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://home.comcast.net / http://www.fold3.com

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