41-23661 - Black Jack
Into The fire - Duane Schultz
Note : This B-24D, 41-23661, one of 2 B-24Ds named, Black Jack, in the MTO, this one with the nose art of a kicking mule, was flown by Lt. Delbert Hahn and his crew.
Lt. Delbert Hahn's, Black Jack, 41-23661, should not be confused with another B-24D, 41-23816, also, named, Black Jack, in the ETO's 8th Air Force, in the U.K., flown by Lt. Coleman Whitaker, who was killed in action (KIA) and shot down over Germany, 2 Nov 1944, lost in his B-24D, also named, Black Jack, with nose art of a picture of a Black Jack hand of cards. The aircraft was lost, shot down and Failed To Return. FTR. 1 Oct 43. Pilot Coleman S. Whitaker KIA. - MACR 3312
The B-24D Liberator, 41-23661, named, Black Jack, with it's pilot Lt. Delbert Hahn and it's distinctive nose art of a kicking mule with horse shoes painted on the fuselage for all of it's bombing missions, was assigned to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron, in the MTO, based at the Lete, Air Base, at Benghazi, Libya, North Africa.
Lt. Delbert Hahn and his crew, flew, Black Jack, 41-23661, on Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 43. After receiving flak damage over Ploesti, Hahn diverted, Black Jack, to a safe landing in Sicily. Black Jack, was photographed after the Ploesti mission with a robbed vertical fin installed on his B-24D, Black Jack, from the B-24D, Valient Virgin, flown by Lt. Claude Turner and interned in Turkey. INT-TURK. Lt. Turner and his crew were KIA later on a mission over Germany in the B-24D, Birmingham Blitzkrieg. Delbert Hahn had a long and successful military career with service in the Korean War and Vietnam. He retired from the U.S. Air Force with the final rank of Colonel.
B-24D - 41-23661 - Black Jack's Crew:
Lt. Delbert H. Hahn, Pilot
Lt. John W. Viewers, CoPilot
Lt. Nathan Nowak, Navigator
Lt. Raymond F. Vengelen, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Robert L. Baird, Engineer
T/Sgt. James E. Creighton, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. John H. Chapman, Gunner
S/Sgt. Leslie J. Foster, Gunner
S/Sgt. Curtis Washburn, Gunner
S/Sgt. Isadore I. Klein, Tail Gunner
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
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-22549
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-885920
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18021181 / O-664934
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Black Jack
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Black Jack
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Black Jack, flew on the August, 1943, Ploesti oil refinery mission, piloted by Lt. Delbert H. Hahn, diverting to Sicily, with battle damage. RTB. 1 Aug 43 |
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. |
Revisions
The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23661 - Black Jack ---- Best Web - B-24 - 41-23816 - Black Jack
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23816 - Black Jack - ( with the nose art of a Black Jack playing card hand )
Best Web - B-24 - 41- 23816 - Black Jack - ( with nose art of a Black Jack hand of playing cards ) - Shot down 1 Oct 1943.
Best Web - 41-23661 - Black Jack - ( with the nose art of a kicking mule )
Best Web - 41-23661 - Black Jack - ( with the nose art of a kicking mule )
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23661 - Black Jack - ( with the high kicking mule nose art )
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23661 - Black Jack - ( kicking mule picture for nose art )