The B-24D, 42-72767, was named, Flame McGoon, and was named by it's first pilot, Lt. Ben Konsynski. He gave her the name, based on the character in Al Capp's comic strip "Lil Abner." The B-24D, Flame McGoon, was part of the 9th Air Force, the 376th Bomb Group, and the 513th Bomb Squadron. Flame McGoon, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, August 1, 1943.



Flame McGoon, flown by Pilot Lt. William J. Paterick, was lost 31 July 1944. Failed to return. FTR - ROU. 6 POW. 4 KIA. 31 Jul 44. MACR 7210. It's target that day was the oil storage dump at Targoviste, Romania. The crew on the last mission was as follows :



William J. Paterick - Pilot

Lester A. Mizer - Co-Pilot

William L. Frese - Navigator

Morton E. Smith - Bombardier

Calvin F. Stanfill - Flight Engineer

Archie M. Stien - Radio Operator

Lawrence C. Longerbeam - Gunner

Jerry C. Roch - Gunner

Earl Haltli - Gunner

Kenneth Hamilton- Gunner

Lt. William L. Frese volunteered for this mission, his 50th, that would have completed his tour. He was looking forward to his return home. Lt. Frese was captured and spent the rest of the war as a POW in Romania.



Resources - 376th Bomb Group



According to Pilot William Paterick's accounts, "Had we been able to fly 2 more minutes, we would have been rescued." But the results of the 4 direct flak hits were devastating. Of the 10 man crew, 6 were captured and became POWs. One man, Morton Smith, the bombardier, didn't have his chute, so he piggybacked down with the navigator, William Frese. Half way down, Lt. Smith lost his grip and fell into the burning wreckage of, Flame McGoon. Three other crew members were shot to death (KIA) from gun fire from the ground." July 31, 1944