41-23778 - Jenny - Lady Luck

Object Number - UPL 14042 - The B-24D Liberator, 41-23778, first named, Jenny, was assigned to the 66th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, in the U.K....
The B-24D Liberator bomber, 41-23778, was, first, named, Jenny. when it was in the 8th Air Force, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 66th Bombing Squadron in Britain, in 1942. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force and sent to Benghazi, Libya, in North Africa, for Operation Tidal Wave, the August 1, 1943, Ploesti oil refinery mission. Lt. Rocco Curelli renamed, 41-23778, Lady Luck, after he and his crew flew it on Operation Tidal Wave over Ploesti, after Lt. Curelli and all of his crew returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 10 RTB. 1 Aug 1943. Sadly, on 16 Oct 43, after surviving the dangerous mission to Ploesti, Lt. Curelli and his crew flew, Lady Luck, on a mission, over the German airfields at Foggia, Italy, and were shot down by enemy fighters near Ruoti, Italy. Curelli and the aircraft Failed To Return (FTR) - Lost on the mission over the enemy airfields, at Foggia, while still on TDY to the 9th Air Force. Pilot Rocco A. Curelli, and all but one of his crew, his Radio Operator, Lt. Wesley Zimmerman, were killed in action (KIA), and the plane was lost on this mission. Lt. Wesley Zimmerman later escaped from captivity and returned to his Bomb Group. (POW-ITA-RTD). 9 KIA. 1 POW-ITA-RTD. 16 Oct 43. MACR 2141-3150. Members of the Curelli crew on the B-24D, Lady Luck, 41-23778 2Lt. Rocco A. Curelli, Pilot, KIA.
2Lt. John Gust Papadopulos, Co-Pilot, KIA.
2Lt. Walter Rossi, Jr., Navigator, KIA.
Victor T. Torrou, Bombardier, KIA.
TSgt. John H. Grinde, Engineer, KIA.
SSgt. Wesley Lee Zimmerman, Radio Operator, POW.
SSgt. Deforest L. Ela, Radio Operator/Gunner, KIA.
SSgt. Raymond Clifford Shafer, Engineer/Gunner, KIA.
SSgt. John R. Hughes, Waist Gunner, KIA.
SSgt. Harper Filer Zoller, Jr. Tail Gunner, KIA.
Connections
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Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15103072
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator;Top Turret Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36365248
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator; Gunner
![The crew of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23778) nicknamed "Jenny", of the 44th Bomb Group, return to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 29 January 1943.
The insignia attached to the breast of several crew members jackets has been censored.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American raid on Germany. Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S. Army Air Corps Carried out their first r](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x1/public/freeman/media-379072.jpg.webp?itok=WQBYfMOL)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11062939 / O-670981
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31157299
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Missions

- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description: 177 B-24’s, of IX Bomber Command (including Heavy Bombers on loan from Eighth AF) are dispatched to bomb oil refineries at Ploesti and nearby Campina. The operation (TIDALWAVE) is costly, 54 planes and 532 airmen being lost, but damage to the targets...
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Assigned |
Benghzi, Libya | 1 August 1943 | Temporary detached to the 9th Air Force for the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Returned safely to Libya. RTB. Renamed, Lady Luck. 1 Aug 43. |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
85056 Ruoti PZ, Italy | 16 August 1943 | Failed to Return - Lost on attack on Foggia airfields while on TDY to the 9th Air Force. Pilot Rocco A. Curelli and all but one crewmen were KIA. 9 KIA, 1 POW-RTS. A/C shot down by enemy fighters near Ruoti, Italy, 16 Aug 1943. MACR 2141-3150. |
Manufactured |
willow run, Ypsilanti, ME | Built by Consolidated. |
Revisions
Added aircraft to connections. - Kickapoo
Details added. - Kickapoo
Additional facts and places. - Kickapoo
Detail changes added. - Kickapoo
Details added. - Kickapoo
Added Details. - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24 - 41-123778 - Lady Luck - Jenny
Details added. - Kickapoo
Details added. - Kickapoo
Details added. - Kickapoo
Detail changes. - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24D - 41-12778 - Jenny - Lady Luck
Best Web - B-24D - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lady luck
Best Web - B-24D - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lady Luck
Find-A-Grave Memorials - Wesley Lee Zimmerman
Find-A-Grave Memorials - TSgt. John H. Grinde
Find-A-Grave memorials - TSgt. John H. Grinde
Bomb Squadron - Kickapoo
Places change. - Kickapoo
Places addition - Kickapoo
Bomb Squadron number change. - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lucky Lady
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lucky lady
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lucky Lady
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Jenny - Lady Luck
Name spelling - Kickapoo
Best Web - B-24 - Lady Luck
B-24 - Best Web - #41-23778 - 'Jenny' - 'Lady Luck'
B-24 - Best Web - 'Lady luck' - SN # 41-23778
B-24 - Best Web - 'Lady luck' - SN # 41-23778
B-24 - Best Web - 'Lady luck' - SN # 41-23778
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties
44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties
AAM Database / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / http://www.b24bestweb.com
MACR 3150 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database