- NOTE : The B-24D, 41-23722, named, Bomerang, should not be confused with the B-24D, 42-40115, named, Boomerang, and which was also based in Britain. Boomerang was shot down and lost on the Ploesti mission. FTR. 1 Aug 43.

The B-24D, 41-23722, Bomerang, like most 8th Air Force planes, was also originally based in Britain, in the 93rd Bomb Group and the 328th Bomb Squadron. It flew on the 93rd Bomb Group's maiden mission, 9 Oct 1942, and sustained the worst battle damage of the ten Liberators damaged on that mission, with over 200 flak splinter holes in the plane. Due to shortages of B-24 parts in the U.K. early in the war, common practice dictated that, 41-23722, was to be cannibalized to repair other aircraft, but the aircraft's crew chief, Master Sergeant Charles Chambers, adamantly refused to scrap his plane, and the aircraft was saved with the support of the pilot, Lieutenant John Stewart.

Bomerang, was flown on Operation Tidal Wave by Pilots Lt. Roy G. Martin and Col. Luther Smith Bird, both of whom, survived the mission to return with their plane, safely to Benghazi, Libya. RTB. 10 RTB. 1 Aug 1943.

Survived Operation Tidal Wave, Ploesti Romania. 1 Aug 43. 
Bomerang, was the first 8th AF B-24 to complete 50 missions. After completing 53 missions, was flown back to the States by Major Walter Stewart for a War Bond tour.
My uncle, Lt. Jack Roach, was the Bombardier on Bomerang on the, 1 Aug 43,  mission  to Ploesti. He was KIA along with two of his fellow crew members on another B-24 during the Osnabruck mission, 22 Dec 43.  -   Info Contributor - Kent Jaquith 

Bomerang, became the first B-24D Liberator of the 8th Air Force to complete it's 50 mission total, qualifying to be sent home from combat. On completion of the aircraft's 53rd mission on, 4 Apr 1944, General Ted Timberlake visited the plane and crew at Hardwick, U.K. for their "50 Mission" going away party.

On 17 April, 1944, Bomerang, flown by Walter Stewart, returned to Fort Worth, Texas, and embarked on a national war bond tour with its crew led by Col. Stewart, with Lt. Royden Lebrecht flying in his plane, The Squaw, and Lt. John Young in, The Blue Streak.

Bomerang's Crew On The Ploesti Mission :

Roy G. Martin - Pilot
Luther C. Bird - Copilot
Donald R. Dahl - Copilot
James W. Reid - Navigator
Jack M. Roach - Bombardier
Charles R. Molina - Top Turret Gunner
George H. Kelly - Waist Gunner
Herschel W. Dodd - Waist Gunner
Francis A. Sullivan - Ball Turret gunner
Robert O. Sparks - Tail Gunner
Harry A. Strand - Engineer

When Bomerang's crew arrived back at the 36th Street Airport, Miami, Florida, for it's bond tour, it's crew members were:

Col. Walter Travis Stewart - Pilot
M/Sgt. George E. Ewald
M/Sgt. Charles A. Chambers
S/Sgt. Enos H. Lee
Lt. George G. Everhart
T/Sgt Alfred B. Bergkamp
Lt. William N. Ford