41-11819 - Raunchy

B-24D, 41-11819,  9th AF 98th BG 344th BS. Shot down over White IV. 1 Aug 43 UPL 13734 UPL 13734 The B-24D, Liberator, 41-11819, Raunchy, in the 344th Bombardment Squadron, in the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 9th Air Force. Crashed and was lost on the low level bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania. The airplane was hit by several flak explosions and damaged over it's target, The Astra Romano refinery complex,. Already hit and damaged by flak, it was downed by an explosive charge attached to an anti aircraft barrage balloon cable, which contacted, Raunchy's, wing and blew it off of the plane, which crashed into the ground flames from an altitude of only 150 feet. Pilot Lt. Sam Neely and seven crewmen were killed in the crash. 8 KIA. 2 WIA-POW. 1 Aug 1943.

The Ploesti Raid - Through The Lens  -  Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 13734 - The B-24D, Liberator, 41-11819, Raunchy, in the 344th Bombardment Squadron, in the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 9th Air Force. Crashed and...

The B-24D Liberator, Raunchy, 41-11819, was in the 344th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force, based at Benghazi, Libya, North Africa, in early 1943.

Raunchy, was flown by Lt. Sam R. Neeley in Flight 1, of the B-24Ds in the 98th Bomb Group's planes on Operation Tidal Wave, over Ploesti, Romania. Raunchy, was destroyed, and 8 of it's crew, including Pilot Lt. Sam Neeley and his copilot, Lt. Herman Henslee, were killed in action. KIA, with 2 exceptions, the plane's radio operator, Sgt. William Schiffmacher and waist gunner, Nick Allen, both of whom survived the airplane's crash, though badly burned, and were captured - 2 WIA-POW. Operation Tidal Wave, the mission to destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, was one of the most daring and desperate bombing missions of WW II. The 98th Bomb Group took nearly 67 percent casualties over their refinery targets. Lt. Neeley  was close friends with both Col. John Kane and Lt. John Young, who were flying the Element Lead B-24D, Hail Columbia, off to Neeley’s RH side in the center of Flight 1. Sam Neeley was one of the several hundred airmen wounded, killed, missing, or captured on the Ploesti mission. Raunchy failed to return (FTR.) 8 KIA - 2 WIA-POW. 1 Aug 1943

Lt. Neeley and his crew, flew in Flight 1, the 1st wave of the 98th Bomb Group's bombers attacking White IV. Command Pilot Lt. Neeley was flying at tree top level on the far left side of Flight 1. Lt. Neeley’s plane had already been heavily hit by the AA flak guns when the plane flew into a smoke column and hit a barrage balloon cable immediately after bomb release. One of Raunchy's wings struck, but did not break the cable, and pulled down an explosive charge attached to the cable, onto the airplane's wing. The explosive charge detonated when it hit the wing, partially folding it and sending the bomber crashing down to the ground, killing Lt. Neeley and most of his crew, who died instantly. Somehow, and by some kind of miracle, Sam Neeley’s radio operator, Lt. Bill Shiffmacher, and one of Neeley’s waist gunners, Sgt. Nick Allen, were badly burned, but survived the crash and were rescued to became POWs at Ploesti. Most of the dead crew members' remains were never found, recovered, or identified because of the extensive fire having totally burned up the airplane, Raunchy, and the crewmen inside. 1 Aug 1943. MACR 169.
                                                                                                                                        B-24D, Raunchy - 41-11819 - was lost on the low level mission to Ploesti, Romania, and Failed To Return (FTR). Lt. Sam Neeley hit a barrage balloon cable over his target, White IV, and was impacted by an explosive charge attached to the balloon cable, which exploded and partially blew, Raunchy's, wing off, crashing the plane from an altitude of 150 feet. Raunchy, crashed into a field killing Lt. Neeley, Copilot Lt. Herman Henslee, and most of the rest of his crew in the crash and fire, except two. The only two survivors of the crash were Radio Operator, SSgt. William W. Schiffmacher and Waist Gunner, SSgt. Nick Allen, who survived the crash and were taken prisoners. 2-POW. 1 Aug 43.

B-24D Raunchy's Crew Over Ploesti:

1st Lt. Samuel R. Neeley -  Pilot - KIA
2nd Lt. Herman H. Henslee - Copilot - KIA
1st Lt. Joel I. Corn - Navigator - KIA
2nd Lt. Eugene L. Rodgen - Bombardier - KIA
TSgt. Earl T. Edelen - Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - KIA
SSgt. Robert P. Schultz - Gunner - KIA
SSgt. William W. Schiffmacher - Radio Operator - WIA-POW
SSgt. Alfred D. Cason - Gunner - KIA
Sgt. Nick A. Allen - Gunner - WIA-POW

- Note : The surviving Ploesti airmen prisoners in Romania were rescued by U.S. Army and U.S. Army Air Corps personnel and were flown out of Romania, and back to safety, some months later, in a special operation (Operation Gunn) by U.S. Army Air Force B-17s sent to rescue them from the approaching Russian army. 31 Aug 1944.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14028237
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-661482
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-29680
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023226 / O-54160
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Kickapoo
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
B-24D, 41-11819,  9th AF 98th BG 344th BS. Shot down over White IV. 1 Aug 43
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Raunchy
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hadley's Harem
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - The Scorpion
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

FTR Failed To Return

1 August 1943 - 8 January 1943 Lost on the Ploesti oil refinery bombing mission. Immediately after bomb release the A/C struck an AA barrage balloon cable with an attached explosive device, which, upon detonation, heavily damaged one of it's wings. 8 KIA, including Sam Neeley. 2 POW. The radio operator and a gunner survived the crash and became prisoners. 2 POW. Pilot Samuel R. Neeley KIA Ploesti. 1 Aug 43. MACR 169.

Assigned

In the 344th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, "The Pyramiders", in the 9th Air Force, "The Force For Freedom".

Revisions

Date4 Jul 2023 17:56:09
ContributorLtCol Tom
ChangesChanges to Description
Date11 May 2023 17:06:28
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti  -  Michael Hill

Date11 May 2023 16:54:46
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti  -  Michael Hill    -   Kickapoo   -   Name spelling changes for Lt. Neeley for accuracy.   -   Kickapoo

Date11 May 2023 16:48:32
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti  -  Michael Hill    -   Kickapoo   -   Name spelling changes for Lt. Sam Neeley for accuracy.   -   Kickapoo

Date10 Feb 2023 16:08:21
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The Ploesti Raid - Through The Lens  -  Roger A. Freeman  -  Kickapoo

Date10 Feb 2023 15:58:17
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

The Ploesti Raid - Through The Lens - Roger A. Freeman  -  Kickapoo

Date22 Jan 2023 02:45:53
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Changed name spelling errors (mine) to correct spelling.   -   Kickapoo

Date13 Dec 2022 10:36:41
Changes
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti  -  Michael Hill describes the crash of Lt. Sam Neeley and his crew in his B-24D, Raunchy, over White IV.                                                                                  Minor wording and spelling changes for clarity and accuracy.   -   Personal Archives    -    KickapooJoyJuice

Date15 May 2022 17:45:39
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesChanges to unit associations
Sources

AAM Database.

Date20 Mar 2022 23:43:35
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Valor : Operation Gunn - Air Force Magazine

Date20 Mar 2022 23:40:25
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Valor : Operation Gunn - Air Force Magazine

Date20 Mar 2022 23:29:03
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz - p. 151, 152, 225.

Date20 Mar 2022 23:04:09
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings and description
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz - p. 151, 152, 225.

Date11 Mar 2022 20:45:41
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description and events
Sources

Into The Fire-Ploesti - Duane Schultz ----- Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Jan 2022 09:59:08
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to nicknames, markings and description
Sources

Details added, spelling, word spacing changes. - Kickapoo

Date19 Dec 2021 22:31:29
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to nicknames
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - Raunchy

Date11 Oct 2021 09:08:50
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Added details. - Kickapoo

Date10 Sep 2021 22:02:05
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings and description
Sources

Revised "Markings". - Kickapoo

Date19 Aug 2021 11:49:57
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August, 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date19 Aug 2021 11:44:32
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description and person associations
Sources

Details and wording additions. - Kickapoo

Date19 Aug 2021 11:35:26
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Word changes and additions. - Kickapoo

Date19 Aug 2021 11:28:55
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings and description
Sources

Word additions and changes. - Kickapoo

Date19 Aug 2021 11:05:48
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings and description
Sources

Spelling, word spacing. - Kickapoo

Date17 Aug 2021 13:07:35
ContributorEmily
ChangesChanges to nicknames, markings and description
Sources

Changed all instances of aircraft name into sentence case to as per best practice for accessibility.

Date16 Aug 2021 21:31:07
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings and description
Sources

Detail, wording, and spacing changes for clarity and accuracy - Kickapoo

Date14 Aug 2021 10:33:47
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to nicknames, markings and description
Sources

Details, wording, and spelling changes. - Kickapoo

Date11 Jun 2021 15:52:20
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Wording changes for clarity - John S Young Jr

Date7 Jun 2021 14:24:42
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Spelling corrected in biography - John S Young Jr

Date7 Jun 2021 14:20:18
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Punctuation changed for clarity - John S Young Jr

Date7 Jun 2021 14:18:10
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Wording and punctuation altered for clarity - John S Young Jr

Date6 Jun 2021 18:39:20
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Puctuation for clarity.

Date6 Jun 2021 18:37:01
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

American Air museum In Britain

Date6 Jun 2021 17:07:50
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to markings
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Raunchy'

Date6 Jun 2021 17:06:11
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to production block number, markings, description and place associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill The Great Ground-Air battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart Best Web - B-24 - 'Raunchy'

Date18 May 2021 19:24:26
Contributorjmoore43
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Added punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date2 Feb 2021 03:50:07
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz

Date2 Feb 2021 03:48:18
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date2 Feb 2021 03:44:48
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date2 Feb 2021 03:41:45
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date2 Feb 2021 03:39:40
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date2 Feb 2021 03:34:41
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date2 Feb 2021 03:31:28
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to nicknames and aircraft associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date2 Feb 2021 03:29:45
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to aircraft associations, unit associations and person associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date15 Dec 2020 12:10:59
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description and person associations
Sources

Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date2 Dec 2020 10:27:14
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Ploesti The Great Air-Ground Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart

Date17 Oct 2020 14:06:38
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Black Sunday -- Michael Hill ---- Into The Fire -- Duane Schultz

Date17 Oct 2020 14:04:01
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Black Sunday -- Michael Hill ---- Into The Fire -- Duane Schultz

Date17 Oct 2020 13:55:29
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to description
Sources

Black Sunday -- Michael Hill ---- Into The Fire -- Duane Schultz

Date21 Nov 2016 04:46:16
Contributor466thHistorian
ChangesChanges to nicknames and place associations
Date13 Mar 2015 16:58:03
ContributorAl_Skiff
ChangesCreated entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description, events, unit associations, mission associations and media associations
Sources

AAM Database.

41-11819: Gallery (4 items)