41-11896 Nightmare

media-15138.jpeg UPL 15138 B-24 Liberator #41-11896 'Nightmare' 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning safely to Libya.

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Object Number - UPL 15138 - B-24 Liberator #41-11896 'Nightmare' 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning safely to Libya.

Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, pilot Lt. Col. Julian M. Bleyer, returning safely to Libya.

Shot down on 3rd Sep 43 mission to bomb Sulmona, Italy marshaling yards, pilot Herman E Stephens - 7 KIA / 3 POW MACR 463

Connections

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

Units served with

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.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Donovan A Astle

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Ninth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: O-678663
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant

Francis Beauregard

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Julian Marion Bleyer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-222423 / 1782A
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Russell E Burton

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Valex Colon

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: Ninth Air Force
  • Service Numbers: 38186096
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Places

Benina

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, pilot Lt. Col. Julian M. Bleyer, returning safely to Libya.

Other

Failed To Return

67039 Sulmona AQ, Italy 3 September 1943 Shot down on 3rd Sep 43 mission to bomb Sulmona, Italy marshaling yards, pilot Herman E. Stephens - 7 KIA / 3 POW MACR 463

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.findagrave.com / http://usaafdata.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 463

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 41-11896

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Bleyer was a Lt Col on the Ploesti raid.

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

Bleyer was a Lt Col on the Ploesti raid.

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_bombers/b24_9.html

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.findagrave.com / http://usaafdata.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 463

41-11896: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 15138 - B-24 Liberator #41-11896 'Nightmare' 343rd BS...

Object number: UPL 15139 - B-24 Liberator #41-11896 'Nightmare' 343rd BS...