41-29331 Blondie's Folly

media-14080.jpeg UPL 14080 B-24H-10-CF, serial number 41-29331

www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum

Object Number - UPL 14080 - B-24H-10-CF, serial number 41-29331

Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. 8 x combat mission. Failed to Return(FTR) Friedrichshafen, 16-Mar-44; On the return after having successfully bombed the target "Blondies' Folly" was attacked by fighters. The crew fought off a dozen fighters, amazingly without casualties, though the B-24 was riddled by 20mm canon shells. Losing altitude all the way back to Holland, control was lost and pilot ordered the bailout, five crew jumping mid channel. (Lt. John Hulse, Sgt's James Duffy, Carl Lee, Peter Morrone and Mike Marino). Control having been re-established, whilst the altitude was ebbing away, ditching became inevitable. The A/C crashed into the 4ft swells and broke in half and began to sink. Lt Peters and co-pilot Wagner never made it out of the wreck. 2Lt DeSimone, Sgt's Conlogue and Lowry escaped the sinking wreck, being rescued 70 minutes later by an RAF float plane, Sgt Lowry later succumbing to his injuries. 2 x RTD, 8 x KIA.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39901872
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17031412 / O-72528
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11069675 / O-688723
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31282312
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15324254
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top turret gunner

Places

Missions

  • Date: 12 December 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

16 March 1944 Failed to Return(FTR) Friedrichshafen, 16-Mar-44; Ditched short of Dover in the channel, breaking up and sinking 2 x RTD, 8 x KIA

Assigned

Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW)

16 March 1944 Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

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Contributoracbernstein1
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Contributoracbernstein1
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Contributoracbernstein1
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ContributorBill Morris
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Sources

www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum

Date
ContributorBill Morris
Changes
Sources

www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 3490 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-29331: Gallery (1 items)