Skip to main content
Edit entry 

42-73428

B-24 Liberator

  • B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG

    B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG

    Show caption About this image
  • B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG

    B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG "Returning from the 376th Bomb Group's 200th mission on December 14,1943 to bomb the airfield at Athens Tatoi. Shown from L-R: Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Ridenhour - 47th Bomb Wing Commander, Col. Keith K. Compton - 376th BG Commander, Capt. E. Lynn Hester - Bombardier, Unknown"

    Show caption About this image
  • B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG

    B-24 42-73428 'Big Nig' 515BS, 376BG "Brig. Gen. Carlyle H. Ridenhour congratulates crew chief Loyson Rankin on the performance of 'Big Nig' after returning from a mission as an observer. Col. Keith K. Compton stands behind Ridenhour."

    Show caption About this image
  •  
  •  
  •  

Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. 10 x KIA MACR 1592

Crew - (P) Robert W Brown, (CP) Florian E Laramore, (N) Jack Larsen, (B) Henry C Alexander, (RO) Cyril F Heath, (E), Samuel Schankerman, (G) Ken W Runyan,(G) Alvin Dschaak,(BG) Eugene Studer, (TG) Robert H Renner.

Service

Units

  • 15th Air Force

    15th Air Force


    The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force. ...

  • 376th Bomb Group

    376th Bomb Group

    Group
    Constituted as 376th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 19 Oct 1942 and activated in Palestine on 31 Oct. Began combat immediately, using B-24 aircraft. Operated with Ninth AF from bases in the Middle East, Nov 1942-Sep 1943, and with Twelfth AF from Tunisia...

  • 515th Bomb Squadron

    515th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Henry Alexander

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: PH.

  • Robert Brown

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: AM, PH.

  • Alvin Dschaak

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.

  • Cyril Heath

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: PH.

  • Florian Laramore

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Kiled in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: AM, PH.

  • Jack Larsen

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: PH.

  • Loyson Rankin

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Crew chief | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Awards: GC, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Robert Renner

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Turret Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 1592 Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Kenneth Runyan

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: AM, PH.

  • Samuel Schankerman

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight engineer / Top turret | 376th Bomb Group
    Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 1592 Awards: PH.

Show more

Places

Events

Event Location Date
Assigned San Pancrazio, Italy 1943

Assigned to 515BS, 376BG, 15AF USAAF.
Crashed Sofia, Bulgaria 20 December 1943

Failed to Return (FTR) Sofia, Bulgaria 20-Dec-43 with Bob Brown crew; Collided with out of control ME109, ripping wing from A/C. 10 x KIA MACR 1592
Nicknames
'Big Nig'
Production block number
B-24 J-45-CO
Manufacturer
Consolidated
Markings and paint scheme/livery
Not yet known

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
20 January 2021 18:21:17 Al_Skiff Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, person associations and place associations
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com/bignig1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/bignig2.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/bignig3.htm
https://www.fold3.com/image/28697579
https://www.armyaircorps-376bg.com/42-73428_no_92_big_nig.html

Share