41-23778 - Jenny - Lady Luck

media-14042.jpeg 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. detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in Benghazi, North Africa in 1943. It's Pilot Lt. Rocco Curelli and his crew, flew , Jenny, on the, Ploesti oil refinery mission and returned safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43. - After surviving the Ploesti mission, Lt. Curelli and the crew renamed, Jenny, to, Lady Luck.
The aircraft was lost on the attack on the German airfields at Foggia, Italy, while still on TDY to the 9th Air Force. Pilot Lt. Rocco A. Curelli and all of his crew, excepting his radio operator, were killed (KIA). The radio Operator was blown clear of, Lucky Lady's explosion and crash, and survived his bail out to become a POW before escaping and returning to duty (POW - RTD). 1 Aug 1943. 9 (KIA ) - 1 (POW-RTD). MACR 2141 -
3150.

Best Web - B-24D - 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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12051881 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39078859 / O-743260
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-797402
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35354093
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Assistant Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15088542 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Places

Missions

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.

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Find-A-Grave Memorials - Wesley Lee Zimmerman

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Find-A-Grave Memorials - TSgt. John H. Grinde

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Find-A-Grave memorials - TSgt. John H. Grinde

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Bomb Squadron - Kickapoo

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Best Web - B-24 - Lady Luck

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B-24 - Best Web - #41-23778 - 'Jenny' - 'Lady Luck'

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B-24 - Best Web - 'Lady luck' - SN # 41-23778

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44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties

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44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties

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44th Bomb Group Roll of Honor and Casualties

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MACR 3150 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

41-23778: Gallery (5 items)