8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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42-95312
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 734th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group. The aircraft completed its first mission on 9 May 1944. It was the second aircraft to be named Lucky Penny after Penelope, the pet dog of Pilot Nicholas Radosevich.
Lost 17-Oct-44 - at bombs away it sustained flak damage, limped onward until it crossed the battle line at 1500 ft and after being abandoned by the crew who landed near Spa, Belgium, the plane crashed a short distance away near Malmédy, Belgium, on its 63rd mission. (Cologne) (Entered in some records on 8 Dec 44 as missing in action)
Crew: 1Lt William Lofton, 2lt Bruce 'Joe' Florea, 2lt Leonard Lonigan, 2Lt Thomas Welch, T/Sgt Hilliard 'Eddie' Edwards, T/Sgt Johnnie Miller, S/Sgt Edward Paulson, Sgt Winford Pace, Sgt Eldon Gould, Sgt Wilbur Stites, Lt Edward Rosenberg.
Service
Units
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453rd Bomb Group
Group
As well as strategic bombardment missions, the 453rd Bomb Group also ferried cargo on two occasions. They hauled petrol, blankets, and rations to France in September 1944 and dropped ammunition, food and medical supplies near Wesel during the airborne... -
734th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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Luther Clark
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 453rd Bomb Group
Flew on the 'Lucky Penny 1 & II Became a B-29 instructor pilot after returning from Europe. Retired from Eastern Air Lines in June 1981. In retirement he had a motorhome with a painting on the back of his B-24 returning over the white cliffs of Dover. -
Penelope Cocker Spaniel
Civilian | Mascot | 453rd Bomb Group
Penelope was the pet dog of Nicholas Radosevich of the 453rd Bomb Group. He named the B-24 Liberators he flew "Lucky Penny" after her. ... -
Joseph Craft
Military | Sergeant | Radio Operator | 453rd Bomb Group
Flew on 'Lucky Penny' -
Hilliard Edwards
Military | Technical Sergeant | Engineer | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD ... -
Bruce Florea
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. 35 x combat missions. ETD ... -
Elden Gould
Military | Staff Sergeant | Nose / tail gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Substitute tail gunner, on 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, A/C received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. ETD... -
Robert Hanson
Military | Sergeant | Engineer | 453rd Bomb Group
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Laddie Head
Military | Assistant Flight Engineer; Crew Chief | 453rd Bomb Group
Flew on 'Lucky Penny -
Robert Hon
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 453rd Bomb Group
Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. Regular tail gunner for Lofton crew flying on B-24 'Lucky Penny II'. Missed mission on 17-Oct-44 due to influenza. ETD Awards: WWII Victory, EAME. -
Leslie Lee
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 453rd Bomb Group
Flew on 'Lucky Penny'
Places
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Old Buckenham
Military site : airfield
Allocated to the Eighth Air Force as a bomber base in 1942, Old Buckenham was built during 1942-43 with three concrete runways, 50 loop hardstandings and two dispersed T2 hangars. The station was the exclusive home for the 453rd Bomb Group, equipped...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Manufactured | Long Beach, CA | 1944 |
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Built at Ford. |
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| Assigned | Old Buckenham, UK | May 1944 |
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Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. |
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| Modified | 15 October 1944 | |
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Fitted with RCM equipment. |
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| Crashed | Malmedy, Belgium | 17 October 1944 |
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Hit by flak, abandoned by crew over Spa, crashed Malmedy, Belgium. 11 x RTD |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2022 18:39:54 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.oldbuck.com/media/32481/Aircraft-of-the-453rd.pdf |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 May 2021 07:38:46 | Emily | Changes to nicknames, markings, description, person associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 May 2019 08:26:52 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, markings, description, events, unit associations, person associations, place associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.oldbuck.com/media/32481/Aircraft-of-the-453rd.pdf |
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