41-29331 Blondie's Folly

www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum
Object Number - UPL 14080 - B-24H-10-CF, serial number 41-29331
Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. 8 x combat mission. Failed to Return(FTR) Friedrichshafen, 16-Mar-44; On the return after having successfully bombed the target "Blondies' Folly" was attacked by fighters. The crew fought off a dozen fighters, amazingly without casualties, though the B-24 was riddled by 20mm canon shells. Losing altitude all the way back to Holland, control was lost and pilot ordered the bailout, five crew jumping mid channel. (Lt. John Hulse, Sgt's James Duffy, Carl Lee, Peter Morrone and Mike Marino). Control having been re-established, whilst the altitude was ebbing away, ditching became inevitable. The A/C crashed into the 4ft swells and broke in half and began to sink. Lt Peters and co-pilot Wagner never made it out of the wreck. 2Lt DeSimone, Sgt's Conlogue and Lowry escaped the sinking wreck, being rescued 70 minutes later by an RAF float plane, Sgt Lowry later succumbing to his injuries. 2 x RTD, 8 x 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: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39901872
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight engineer

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17031412 / O-72528
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11069675 / O-688723
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31282312
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15324254
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top turret gunner
Places

- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- Date: 12 December 1944

- Date: 2 March 1944
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
English Channel | 16 March 1944 | Failed to Return(FTR) Friedrichshafen, 16-Mar-44; Ditched short of Dover in the channel, breaking up and sinking 2 x RTD, 8 x KIA |
Assigned Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
Horsham St Faith, UK | 16 March 1944 | Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum
www.b24bestweb.com via Fort Worth Aviation Museum
MACR 3490 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database