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B-24H-15-FO #42-52597 "Lady Lightning" Code: T9-M
466th BG - 785th BS
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B-24H-15-FO #42-52597 Lady Lightning
466th BG - 784th BS & 786th BS
Codes: T9-M & U8-W
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TSGT Frederick J. Gerritz
Radio Operator
Crew #725 - John Suchiu Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
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B-28H-15-FO #42-52597 "Lady Lightning" Code: U8-W
466th BG - 786th BS
Show using parachutes tied to the wait gun mounts for braking after apparently losing hydraulics on a mission. Photographed after transferring from the 784th BS to the 786th BS
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MACR 8428
42-52597
"Lady Lightning"
466th BG | 787th BS
15 Aug 1944
Our pilot (Arthur Kraft) picked the plane up at the Willow Run factory and had to sign a $50,000 voucher. We were a new group. In February 1944 we took off from West Palm Beach, FL, stopped in Trinidad and then on to Belem, Brazil. From there we went to Fortaleza, Brazil which was the jumping off point to fly over the Atlantic. From Fortaleza we flew to Dakar (now in Senegal). On the way to Dakar, we were past the point of no return when we were caught in an electrical storm. We were lit up like little Las Vegas! The radio operator had the trailing antenna out and lightning struck it, entering the catwalk in the bomb bay that lead to the cockpit. It completely destroyed the radios. The tail gunner was asleep on the catwalk at the time. He had GI flashlight in his pocket at the time. The lightning destroyed the flashlight and left a hole in the fuselage large enough to crawl through, but luckily the tail gunner was just stunned.
The next day we flew to Marrakesh, Morrocco where the repair of the plane took place. Then on to Shannon, Ireland and then to Attlebridge. When we arrived at Attlebridge we decided the appropriate name of the aircraft should be "Lady Lightning"! - James Bates, Waist Gunner
Service
Units
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Group
The 466th Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators from Attlebridge, Norfolk, during the last year of the war in Europe. The Group flew 232 missions in the course of the year and celebrated the 100th one by inviting local people onto the base to mark the...
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People
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Tail Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Tail Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Mijenaleck on 8/15/44 in B-24 'Lady Lighting' #42-52597
POW
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 466th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Mijenaleck on 8/15/44 in B-24 #42-52597 'Lady Lighting'
POW
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Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 466th Bomb Group
Evadee. Shot down by fighters and crashed at Mijenaleck on 8/15/44 in B-24 'Lady Lighting' #42-52597
Evaded Capture
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Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Radio Operator | 466th Bomb Group
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Military | Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade) | Flight Engineer | 466th Bomb Group
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Missions
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22 March 1944
The German aviation industries at Oraneinburg and Basdorf were the intended primary target for this mission but dense cloud cover prevented the attack on these targets. The secondary target of Berlin, Germany and surrounding Targets of Opportunity (TOs...
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15 August 1944
Airfields in NW Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium are the primary targets for this mission. 8th Air Force despatches a total of 932 aircraft. The raid is coordinated with 1,000 Royal Air Force (RAF) heavy bombers and Mosquitos attacking 9 airfields...
Places
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Military site : airfield
Attlebridge was constructed for RAF use and completed to that standard in 1942. However, with news that it was to be assigned to the American Air Force, the runways were extended and additional hardstandings and outbuildings constructed for the heavy...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Delivered |
Willow Run, Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48198, USA |
February 1944 |
First Combat Mission |
Berlin, Germany |
22 March 1944 |
Shot Down |
7946 Wanneperveen, Netherlands |
15 August 1944 |