B-24 Liberator
![Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-41013 'Trouble' [nearest camera] of 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group over Cognac, France, 8 February 1944.](https://www.americanairmuseum.com/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/media/media-14556.jpeg?itok=NJed7P4s)
Consolidated B-24 Liberator #42-41013 'Trouble' [nearest camera] of 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group over Cognac, France, 8 February 1944.
This video is a brief summary of the book titled "Trouble". A B-24 Liberator nicknamed Trouble was shot down over Nazi-occupied France on Jan. 7, 1944. Robert Sweatt, the right waist gunner, was the only survivor. The book gives details of the crew's first 16 missions, the fateful 17th mission, and Robert's amazing escape through France including the famous Shelburne Escape Line. The book is full of laughter and fun, as well as tears, drama and miracles.
Originally assigned to the 8th AF, the 44th BG, and the 506th BS. "Trouble", flew on the low level mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania (piloted by Lt. Gordon Stevens of the 44th Bomb Group). Transferred to the 389th and taken over by Lt. David Wilhite and his crew on November 13, 1943.
"Trouble" was lost on the Jan 7, 1944 mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany with Lt. David Wilhite as pilot. Captain Kenneth Caldwell was flying in the co-pilot's seat. Shot down by FW 190 fighters over Bouville, France. 10 KIA, 1 POW. MACR 1853
An account was written in the book, "Trouble", by Larry Smith
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator, 42-40629, The Scorpion, in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bombardment Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission on the oil refineries, piloted by Lt. Kenneth M. Caldwell and Col. Jack Wood...
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Squadron
Squadron
Constituted 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec. 1942. Activated on 24 Dec. 1942. Inactivated on 13 Sept. 1945. Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air...
Military | Major | B-24D Co-Pilot - Command Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Lt. Kenneth M. Caldwell from the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bombardment Group, and the 565th Bomb Squadron took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti with Col. Jack W. Wood, observing, on 1-Aug-43, flying the B-24D, 42-40629, named, THE...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Wilhite crew. Shot down by fighters near Orleans, France on 7-Jan-44 in B-24 42-41013 'Trouble N' Mind' Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1853
Awards: PH.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator #42-40751.
...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Wilhite crew. Shot down by fighters near Orleans, France on 7-Jan-44 in B-24 42-41013 'Trouble N' Mind' Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1853
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 389th Bomb Group
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Wilhite crew. Shot down by fighters near Orleans, France on 7-Jan-44 in B-24 42-41013 'Trouble N' Mind' Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1853
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-41013.
22 July 1943 while TDY 9th AF, accident in Libya on a practice bombing mission.
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-41013.
22 July 1943 while TDY 9th AF, accident in Libya on a practice bombing mission. in B24 41-23787
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-41013.
22 July 1943 while TDY 9th AF, accident in Libya on a practice bombing mission. in B24 41-23787
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 389th Bomb Group
Assigned to 566BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. Wilhite crew. Shot down by fighters near Orleans, France on 7-Jan-44 in B-24 42-41013 'Trouble N' Mind' Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 1853
Awards: AM (2OLC), PH.
Military | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-41013.
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...
20 December 1943
The port area of Bremen is the target for 546 heavy bombers. The total includes 12 PFF-equipped B-17s from 482BG. All 12 of these are effective on the target and 11 are damaged. The bomber gunners of this element claim 1-1-0 (this total included with...
7 January 1944
The industrial areas of Ludwigshaven, Germany are the primary target for this mission. The formation has three elements. The bomber gunners of the entire force claim 30-6-17 of attacking German aircraft.
...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Bouville, France | 7 January 1944 |
|
Lost on the Jan 7, 44 mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany. Shot down by fighters (Fw 190's) over Bouville, France. 10 KIA, 1 POW MACR 1853 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 16 May 2022 11:51:19 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 1853 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 19 December 2021 22:33:43 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 November 2021 10:48:51 | aquarya | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Trouble per Kelsey McMillan, 389th Bomb Group Historian |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 November 2021 10:48:00 | aquarya | Changes to description and events |
| Sources | ||
Ploesti crew manifest for 42-41013 per "The Ploesti Raid Through the Lens" by Roger Freeman, p. 55. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 August 2021 11:10:39 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
TROUBLE - Larry Smith |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 August 2021 11:04:30 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames, description and aircraft associations |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday - Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 December 2020 07:24:17 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday - Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 18 December 2020 07:17:14 | Kickapoo | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday - Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2015 09:47:51 | Al_Skiff | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 1853 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2015 09:39:20 | Al_Skiff | Changes to unit associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 1853 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2015 09:36:38 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, person associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 1853 |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:52 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 1853 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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