B-24 Liberator
B-24H-15-DT #41-28932 Ramblin' Wreck Code: 6L-E 466th BG - 787th BS Shot Down 15 August 1944
B-24H-15-DT #41-28932 "Ramblin Wreck" Code: 6L-E
Bob Harrington describes the attack on his substitute aircraft, "Ramblin' Wreck," on August 15, 1944, following a successful bombing attack on a Luftwaffe airstrip in Vechta, Germany. Interview from 2004.
Bob Harrington describes bailing out of his crippled B-24, "Ramblin' Wreck," and evading capture in occupied Holland with the assistance of Dutch helpers, August 15, 1944. Interviewed August 2004.
MACR 8430 41-28932 "Ramblin' Wreck" 466th BG | 787th BS 15 Aug 1944
This aircraft's last mission was on August 15, 1944, when it was flown by a makeshift crew led by pilot Robert W. Harrington from Attlebridge air base. The target was a Luftwaffe airfield in Vechta, near Bremen, Germany. The target was successfully hit, but on the way back to the base the group was attacked by German Me-109 fighters. Four B-24s were shot down, including Ramblin' Wreck, over the Dutch town of Steenwijk. Crewmembers Tice Jones, Chester Zyb and William Julian were killed. The remaining crew parachuted to safety, and all but Harrington and Bob Borst were quickly captured. The latter two successfully (and separately) evaded, with Harrington rescued by Dutch resistance and sheltered in Steenwijk until the town was liberated by Canadian forces in April 1945.
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...
Squadron
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 466th Bomb Group
Shot down on 8/15/44 in B-24 'Ramblin Wreck' #41-28932. Crashed at Gelderingen, Evaded (EVD).
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Bob Harrington piloted the B-24 "Troublemaker" (#42-95067), stationed at Attlebridge in the summer of 1944. After nine missions with Troublemaker, on August 15, 1944 he was called up to fly an unfamiliar aircraft, Ramblin' Wreck (#41-28932), with a...
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Top Turret Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen in B-24 Ramblin' Wreck #4128932. He had escaped death 3 days before when his regular crew, Crew #744 - Hammond, had been shot down with everyone onboard were KIA. Jones had...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen in B-24 'Ramblin Wreck' #41-28932, Killed in Action (KIA).
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen on 8/15/44 in B-24 Ramblin' Wreck #4128932
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Togglier/Nose Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen on 8/15/44 in B-24 Ramblin' Wreck #4128932
POW
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 466th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen on 8/15/44 in B-24 Ramblin Wreck #4128932
POW
Military | Staff Sergeant (Technician Third Grade) | Radio Operator | 466th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen in B-24 "Ramblin' Wreck" #41-28932, Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Right Waist Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen on 8/15/44 in B-24 'Ramblin Wreck' #41-28932, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
Military | Sergeant (Technician Fourth Grade) | Tail Gunner | 466th Bomb Group
Shot down by fighters and crashed at Gelderingen in B-24 "Ramblin' Wreck" #41-28932, Killed in Action (KIA).
Last name was originally spelled Zdyb. His parents were Polish immigrants.
7 August 1944
STRATEGIC OPERATIONS (Eighth Air Force): 4 missions are flown:
...
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...
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...
Crash site
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| First 466th BG Combat Mission | 50260 Sottevast, France | 5 May 1944 |
| Failed to Return (FTR) | Steenwijk, Netherlands | 15 August 1944 |
|
Shot Down by German fighters. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 November 2017 02:31:59 | 466thHistorian | Changes to events |
| Sources | ||
http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_acgroup.php?acgroup_id=53 |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 20 May 2017 14:45:55 | Clark B | Changes to description and media associations |
| Sources | ||
As told to Clark Beyer by Bob Harrington, August 2004. |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 10 November 2014 00:51:10 | 466thHistorian | Changes to nicknames, markings, events, place associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
Attlebridge Arsenal - Brassfield & Wassom |
||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:05 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
MACR 8430 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database |
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