42-40973 Battleaxe

B-24 #42-40973 "Battleaxe" 415th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Charles A Sayler, returning safely to Libya.

13th Nov 42, A/C flew through inaccurate flak and German fighter attacks which petered out the moment the P-38 escort fighters joined the fight. The port of Bremen was bombed at 11.47. A/C was hit by either flak or fighters and one engine was trailing smoke. Over the North Sea it started to glide out of formation, but under control. This was when the Bomb Group was within 20 minutes flying time to the English coast. No one had seen it crash or ditch, but in the following days and weeks, the bodies of five crew members washed ashore on the Dutch coast. 5 KIA 5 MIA/KIA. MACR 1375.

Crew:

Pilot 1st Lt. Harlan C Almlie, MN, Co Pilot 2nd Lt William E. Hacker, MA

Navigator 2nd Lt Joseph L Schexnayder, Garyville, LA, Bombardier 2nd Lt Walter J Seiler, IL

Engineer T/Sgt Donald A Davis, IL, Radio Op. T/Sgt Everett E Permar, IN

Belly Gun S/Sgt George W Iorgov, TX, RW Gunner S/Sgt John L Towning, CA,

LW Gunner S/Sgt John V Lundstrom, IN, Tail Turret S/Sgt Frederick A Robinson, NY.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676714
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36343869
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron Headquarters (44th Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: 17062705 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 450th Bomb Group 720th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-531342
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Charles A Sayler, returning safely to Libya.

Other

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

English Channel 13 November 1943 13th Nov 42, A/C flew through inaccurate flak and German fighter attacks which petered out the moment the P-38 escort fighters joined the fight. The port of Bremen was bombed at 11.47. A/C was hit by either flak or fighters and one engine was trailing smoke. Over the North Sea it started to glide out of formation, but under control. This was when the Bomb Group was within 20 minutes flying time to the English coast. No one had seen it crash or ditch, but in the following days and weeks, the bodies of five crew members washed ashore on the Dutch coast. 5 KIA 5 MIA/KIA. MACR 1375.

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 415th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 1375 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database