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42-40765

B-24 Liberator

  • B-24D Liberator, 42-40765, Valient Virgin, was in the 329th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force, in Britain. It flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. 1st Aug 43 Tidal Wave Crew : - Russell D. Demont - Pilot - Robert C. Murray - Co-Pilot George A. Stewart - Navigator George G. Everhart - Bombardier Fredrick H. Homnick - Radio Operator Alfred B. Bergkemp - Top Turret Gunner Bernard A. Coburn - Waist Gunner Julius Erdely - Waist Gunner William J. Nelson - Nose Gunner Raymond J. Russell - Tail Gunner

    B-24D Liberator, 42-40765, Valient Virgin, was in the 329th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force, in Britain. It flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. 1st Aug 43 Tidal Wave Crew : - Russell D. Demont - Pilot - Robert C. Murray - Co-Pilot George A. Stewart - Navigator George G. Everhart - Bombardier Fredrick H. Homnick - Radio Operator Alfred B. Bergkemp - Top Turret Gunner Bernard A. Coburn - Waist Gunner Julius Erdely - Waist Gunner William J. Nelson - Nose Gunner Raymond J. Russell - Tail Gunner

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  • B-24D - Valient Virgin - 42-40765 - 8th Air Force - 93rd Bomb Group - 329th Bomb Squadron. Flew on and survived Operation Tidal Wave, to the Ploesti oil refineries, returning safely to Libya - Aug 1, 1943. Returned to Hardwick, Britain with the 93rd Bomb Group. Lost in collision with the B-24D, Joisey Bounce, after a mission to Bremen, Germany - Nov 1943 Contributor - Brian J. Piaquadio

    B-24D - Valient Virgin - 42-40765 - 8th Air Force - 93rd Bomb Group - 329th Bomb Squadron. Flew on and survived Operation Tidal Wave, to the Ploesti oil refineries, returning safely to Libya - Aug 1, 1943. Returned to Hardwick, Britain with the 93rd Bomb Group. Lost in collision with the B-24D, Joisey Bounce, after a mission to Bremen, Germany - Nov 1943 Contributor - Brian J. Piaquadio

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  • B-24D - Valient Virgin, and crew. 42-40765. Flew on Ploesti mission and returned to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43. Aircraft lost. Mid air collision with, Joisey Bounce. Pilot Richard Sedivec. 10 KIA. 1944

    B-24D - Valient Virgin, and crew. 42-40765. Flew on Ploesti mission and returned to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43. Aircraft lost. Mid air collision with, Joisey Bounce. Pilot Richard Sedivec. 10 KIA. 1944

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B-24-D-95-CO - 42-40765 - Delivered to Tucson, AZ May 1943 - Allocated to 8th Air Force
Assigned to 8th AF, 93rd BG, 329th BS.

The B-24D, 42-40765, named, Valient Virgin, with "Valiant" misspelled, was originally in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 329th Bomb Squadron, based at Hardwick in the U.K. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 343rd Bomb Squadron, based at Berca Air Base at Benghazi, Libya, 1942, to assist with Operation Tidal Wave, the large bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.
Valient Virgin, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, over Ploesti Romania. The Pilot, Lt. Russell D. Demont and Copilot Lt. Robert C. Murray, and their crew, flew, Valient Virgin, on Operation Tidal Wave in "B" formation, Position 2-2, and returned safely to Libya. August 1, 1943.

Tidal Wave Crew:
Russell D. Demont - Pilot
Robert C. Murray - Co-Pilot
George A. Stewart - Navigator
George G. Everhart - Bombardier
Fredrick H. Homnick - Radio Operator
Alfred B. Bergkamp - Top Turret Gunner
Bernard A. Coburn - Waist Gunner
Julius Erdely - Waist Gunner
William J. Nelson - Nose Gunner
Raymond J. Russell - Tail Gunner

After the Ploesti mission, Valient Virgin, returned to Hardwick, England, with the rest of the 8th Air Force and the 93rd Bomb Group.

Valient Virgin, crashed, and was lost, with Pilot Lt. Richard Sedivec, and his crew, Killed In Action (KIA), after he had a mid air collision over Bremen, Germany, with the B-24D, Joisey Bounce, which had been flown by Walter Stewart over Ploesti, renamed, Utah Man, by Stewart. After taking a devastating direct hit by an enemy flak burst, one of Joisey Bounce's wings separated from the aircraft, causing it to spin wildly out of the sky and out of control, colliding with, Valient Virgin below it. It crashed into, Valient Virgin's, fuselage and bomb bays, causing Valient Virgin's tail section to break off and separate from the rest of the airplane. Joisey Bounce, and her crew were also lost in the collision/crash. Both planes crashed near Husum, Germany. Valient Virgin's crew : 3 POW - 7 KIA. 13 Nov 43.

The bodies of the crews of both planes were interred together at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, Missouri. MACR 2184.

Contributor - Brian J. Piaquadio

Service

Aircraft

  • 41-24147 - The Duchess - Evelyn

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D, The Duchess, was in the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 330th Bombing Squadron in Britain. It was detached, transferred temporarily (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa and flew on Operation Tidal Wave to bomb the oil...

  • 41-24226 - Joisey Bounce - Utah Man

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D, 41-24226, Joisey Bounce, was assigned to Pilot Lt. Walter Travis Stewart in the the 330th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force, for the large mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Col. Stewart changed...

  • 41-11761 - The Squaw - Sleepy

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D Liberator bomber, 41-11761, was first named, Sleepy, by the men in the 8th Air Force and the 93rd Bomb Group in the U.K. and, later, was renamed, The Squaw, by it's Command Pilot, Lt. Royden LeBrecht, after being transferred to the 9th Air...

  • 42-40246 - Thunder Mug

    B-24 Liberator
    The B-24D, 42-40246, named, Thunder Mug, was flown by pilots, Lt. Russell Longnecker and Lt. Donald K. "Deacon" Jones, on the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 43. ...

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Units

  • 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...

  • 329th Bomb Squadron

    329th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

People

  • Alfred Bergkamp

    Military | Technical Sergeant | 93rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 329BS, 93BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew Ploesti raid on 1-Aug-43. ETD Awards: AM, DFC, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Bernard Coburn

    Military | Staff Sergeant | B-24 Waist Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Staff Sergeant Bernard Arthur Coburn was assigned to the 329th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF, in Britain, as a waist gunner, detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, USAAF, for Operation Tidal Wave. He flew 25 combat...

  • Joseph Cozzone

    Military | Staff Sergeant | B-24 Waist Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Collided with another aircraft in the B-24D, 42-40765, Valiant Virgin. Killed in Action (KIA). 13 November 1943

  • Russell De Mont

    Military | Lieutenant Colonel | B-24 Command Pilot | 405th Fighter Group
    In WWII, Lt. Russell DeMont was assigned as B-24 bomber pilot to the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 329th Bomb Squadron in the U.K., detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force at Benghazi, Libya. Pilot Lt. Russell D. Demont and Copilot Lt. Robert...

  • Julius Erdely

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 392nd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 329BS, 93BG, 8AF USAAF. ...

  • William Erwin

    Military | Technical Sergeant | B-24 Top Turret Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Collided with another aircraft 13 November 1943 in the B-24D, 42-40765, Valiant Virgin. Killed in Action (KIA).

  • George Everhart

    Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator / Bombardier | 93rd Bomb Group
    Assigned to 329BS, 93BG, 8AF USAAF. ETD Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

  • Edwin Gillespie

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Collided with another aircraft 13 November 1943 in B-24 42-40765 'Valiant Virgin. ' Prisoner of War (POW). POW

  • Frederick Homnick

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator Gunner | 93rd Bomb Group
    Collided with another aircraft 13 November 1943 in B-24 42-40765 'Valiant Virgin. ' Killed in Action (KIA).

  • Robert Murray

    Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot / Pilot | 93rd Bomb Group
    Awarded DFC

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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...

  • VIII Bomber Command 130

    13 November 1943
    The port area of Bremen, Germany is the focus of this mission composed of three elements. The first element is a combined force of 154 B0-17 of 1st Bomb Division including 94BG (16); 385BG (17); 95BG (21); 100BG (18); 390BG (21); 96BG (40); and 388BG ...

Places

  • Hardwick

    Military site : airfield
    Planned as an RAF bomber airfield, Hardwick was used first by the 310th Bomb Group, equipped with B-25 Mitchells. In December 1943, the B-24 Liberators of the 93rd Bomb Group moved in, and remained until the end of the war, flying over 330 missions....

Events

Event Location Date
Manufactured Willow Run, Ypsilanti, MI 1943

Built at Consolidated.
Delivered Tucson AAF, AZ 1943

Tucson, AZ.
Assigned Benghazi, Libya May 1943

Assigned to 329th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF, USAAF. TDY 9th AF.
Survived Ploesti Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943

Flew the Ploesti mission in the B formation. Returned safely to Libya. RTB 1 Aug 43.
Failed to Return (FTR) Husum, Germany 13 November 1943

Lost on the November 13, 1943 mission to Bremen, Germany, after a collision with another B-24D, 41-24226, Utah Man - Joisey Bounce, which smashed its bomb bays and caused the tail section to break off. both fell out of control and crashed near Husum, Germany. 3 POW 7 KIA. MACR 2184.
Nicknames
- Valient Virgin
Production block number
B-24D-95-CO
Manufacturer
Consolidated
Markings and paint scheme/livery

The B-24D, 42-40765, named, Valient Virgin, was painted in the USAAF standard olive drab color. It's national insignias were white stars on blue roundels with a yellow border around the insignias. The name, Valient Virgin, was painted on both sides of the aircraft's forward nose in written letters next to a picture of a naked lady on her knees facing the written name, Valient Virgin. It's abbreviated serial number, 240765, was painted on the outboard sides of it's vertical stabilizers with it's Radio Call Letter, T.

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
24 January 2022 08:50:43 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames and description
Sources

Details, wording changes. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
06 January 2022 07:40:51 Kickapoo Changes to description and events
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill
Date Contributor Update
19 December 2021 22:18:49 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames
Sources

Detail added. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
18 November 2021 06:32:42 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz
Date Contributor Update
10 November 2021 09:15:29 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Airplane name changes and details added for clarity. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
10 November 2021 09:12:20 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Airplane names changed for accuracy. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
17 October 2021 02:00:06 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Wording changes. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
06 October 2021 04:50:53 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Wording changes. Punctuation and word spacing. - Kickapoo
Date Contributor Update
06 October 2021 00:59:11 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Valient Virgin - Joisey Bounce
Date Contributor Update
06 October 2021 00:55:51 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Valient Virgin - Joisey Bounce
Date Contributor Update
06 October 2021 00:50:02 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Valient Virgin - Joisey Bounce
Date Contributor Update
06 October 2021 00:38:24 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Valient Virgin - Joisey Bounce
Date Contributor Update
04 October 2021 06:01:05 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill
Date Contributor Update
04 October 2021 05:33:23 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Black Sunday - B-24 - 42-40765 - Valient Virgin
Date Contributor Update
04 October 2021 05:03:44 Kickapoo Changes to markings and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40765 - Valient Virgin
Date Contributor Update
04 October 2021 04:55:36 Kickapoo Changes to markings and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40765 - Valient Virgin
Date Contributor Update
28 July 2021 05:38:20 Kickapoo Changes to markings and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - VALIENT VIRGIN - 42-40765
Date Contributor Update
28 July 2021 05:21:20 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - VALIENT VIRGIN
Date Contributor Update
27 July 2021 09:52:28 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames, markings and description
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill Best Web - VALIENT VIRGIN
Date Contributor Update
26 July 2021 23:07:33 Jim Stocking Changes to description
Sources

As per November 1945 letter written by Joisey Bounce survivor and POW, Sgt.Robert Cox ,to one of the crew's mother describing the last minutes of the aircraft..
Also corrected the spelling of the name of the Vali"e"nt Virgin.
Date Contributor Update
07 May 2021 03:03:44 Kickapoo Changes to markings and description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Valient Virgin
Date Contributor Update
07 May 2021 02:58:54 Kickapoo Changes to nicknames and markings
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Valient Virgin'
Date Contributor Update
08 April 2021 15:39:23 Emily Changes to nicknames and description
Sources

Amended spelling of Bergkamp in aircraft biography
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2021 09:35:53 Al_Skiff Changes to events and aircraft associations
Sources

Removed circular database reference - (Linked to itself)
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2021 05:57:56 phil marchese Changes to description
Sources

Added US history per a/c record card. Conformed basic information to AAM format.
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2021 05:14:55 Kickapoo Changes to markings
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Valient Virgin' - # 42-40765
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2021 05:12:28 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Valient Virgin' - # 42-40765
Date Contributor Update
10 March 2021 05:09:37 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

Best Web - B -24 - 'Valient Virgin' - # 42-40765
Date Contributor Update
05 February 2021 08:08:43 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

B-24 - Best Web - # 42-40765 - 'Valient Virgin'
Date Contributor Update
05 February 2021 08:06:27 Kickapoo Changes to description, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

B-24 - Best Web - #42-40765 - Valient Virgin'
Date Contributor Update
30 January 2021 11:41:01 Kickapoo Changes to markings
Sources

B-24 - Best Web ---- The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
Date Contributor Update
24 January 2021 20:42:00 Kickapoo Changes to description
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
Date Contributor Update
24 January 2021 20:39:55 Kickapoo Changes to description and events
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
Date Contributor Update
12 April 2015 16:48:21 Al_Skiff Changes to nicknames
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
Date Contributor Update
12 April 2015 16:38:29 Al_Skiff Changes to production block number, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, person associations and mission associations
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:40:52 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

MACR 2184 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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