41-11913 - Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
Best Web - B-24 - 41-11913
The B-24D, 41-11913, was the original 9th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group, and 343rd Bomb Squadron's, B-24D, named, Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs, after the Walt Disney movie characters. The aircraft's nose art depicted the Disney princess, Snow White, and was painted by crew chief SSgt. Amos Nicholson. The aircraft was delivered to the crew while stationed at MacDill AFB, Tampa, Florida, where the nose art was painted. It left the United States in July 1942 and flew to South America, to the Gold Coast, and was based in North Africa near Haifa, Egypt. Our first mission was 14 Aug 42. All of the first crew returned to the United States by Jun 43, and missed the Ploesti Raid. 1 Aug 43.
The aircraft was lost in a midair collision, May 1, 1943, after it flew into another aircraft, flying through a cloud on a daylight bombing raid over Reggio Di Calabria, Italy. The aircraft was seen to go into a spin and exploded in flames before crashing into the sea. All 10 members of the crew were killed in action. 10 KIA. 1 May, 1943.
MACR 15155. - Pilot Raymond C. Walton
Snow White and the Seven Dwarf's Crew 1942-43 - Aircraft 41-11913 :
Rollo Lawrence, Capt. - Pilot
Gomer Wolf, 1st Lt. - Co-Pilot
William Holmes, 1st Lt.. - Bombardier
Bernard Tully, 1st Lt. - Navigator
John Harkeli, S/Sgt. - Engineer
Hermet Gregory, S/Sgt. - Radio Operator
Richard Houlihan, Sgt. - Gunner
James Fisher, Sgt. - Gunner
George Brunnell, Sgt. - Tail Gunner
NOTE : There was one other B-24D Liberator bomber in The ETO, with the same nose art and name, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was the B-24D, 42-40364, which was first named, The Pink Elephant, and, also, was in the 9th Air Force, and the 98th Bomb Group. It took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the Ploesti mission, flown by Capt. James Gunn and his crew, all of whom were killed in action (KIA), shot down and crashed at Ploesti, Romania, with the loss of all crew members. Aircraft FTR. 10 KIA. 1 Aug 1943
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Libya | 1 May 1943 | |
Assigned |
MacDill Air Force Base |