42-40246 - Thunder Mug

Standing - Left to Right :
Stanley Valcik, Hubert R. Tardif, William Schrampf, Russell D. Longnecker - Pilot
Kneeling - Left to Right :
Edward A. Sand, Howard Teague, J. C. Pinson, Bernard C. Strand, Leonard J. Dougal, Aloysios G. Cunningham
Info added. - Kickapoo
Object Number - UPL 14960 - B-24D Liberator, 42-40246, Thunder Mug and Crew : Standing - Left to Right : Stanley Valcik, Hubert R. Tardif, William Schrampf, ...
The B-24D, 42-40246, named, Thunder Mug, was flown by pilots, Lt. Russell Longnecker and Lt. Donald K. "Deacon" Jones, on the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 43.
Thunder Mug - Operation Tidal Wave Crew :
The B-24D, Thunder Mug, had a landing accident at Bedford, U.K., due to a mechanical failure. Pilot Lt. Frank Kilcheski, RO SSgt. Gerald Weinberg, and another crewman were killed in action. 3 KIA. 30 Oct 43. Aircraft salvaged. 10 Oct, 1943.
Formation Photograph : Consolidated B-24D Liberator bombers The B-24D, Joisey Bounce, was lost on a mission to Bremen, Germany when it was involved in a mid air collision with the B-24D, 42-40765, Valient Virgin. First named, Joisey Bounce, then, formerly named, Utah Man, and flown by Capt. Walter Stewart, for the Ploesti mission, but was again renamed, Joisey Bounce, back in the U.K. at the time of it's loss, over Husum, Germany. 13 Nov 1943. MACR 2176 Joisey Bounce's Crew When Lost :
Pilot : Russell Longnecker Copilot : Donald K. "Deacon" Jones
Navigator : Stanley Valcik
Bombardier : William M. Schrampf
Observer : Odin C. Olsen
Top Turret Gunner : J.C. Pinson
Rear Gunner Bernard : C. Strand
Waist Gunner : Aloisius G. Cunningham
Waist Gunner : Howard I. Teague
Gunner : Edward A. Sand Jr.
93rd Bomb Group formation flight. Nearest aircraft is the Consolidated B-24D-25-CO , 41-24226, Joisey Bounce. Second aircraft is, 41-24147, The Duchess, also in the 330th Bomb Squadron. Next higher is, 41-23722, Bomerang, from the 328th Bomb Squadron. Last of all, at the very top is, 42-40246, Thunder Mug, RCL F, also part of the 328th Bomb Squadron. - U.S. Air Force photo.
2nd Lt. Loren J. Koon - Pilot - O-2044710 - South Carolina - KIA
2nd Lt. Robert Timmer - Co-Pilot - O-2044427 - Michigan- KIA
Sgt. Benjamin Caplan - Navigator - 10600460 - California - KIA
1st Lt. Ralph W. Cummings - Bombardier - O-733155 - Montana - KIA
Sgt. Robert L. Cox - Engineer/Top Turret Gunner - 18064516 - POW - Stalag17B,
Breunau, Germany
TSgt. Paul E. Johnston - Radio Operator - 35258734 - Kentucky - POW - Stalag Luft 3,
Sagan
SSgt. William E. Major - Right Waist Gunner - 15104438 - Indiana - KIA - buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
SSgt. John E. Connolly - Left Waist Gunner - 16042975 - Michigan - KIA - buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
SSgt. Joseph R. Doyle - Tail Gunner - 13039348 - Pennsylvania - KIA - buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
SSgt. Richard E. Bartlett - Tunnel Gunner - 19056154 - Montana - KIA - All KIA Crewmen were buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri
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: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13055223
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14075208 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Maintenance
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: T-190654 / O-2044845
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Berka, al Birkah
Missions

- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - The Duchess - Evelyn
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Joisey Bounce - Utah Man
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Little Sheppard
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Thunder Mug
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Valient Virgin
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew in 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya. |
Crashed |
Bedford, Bedford, UK | 30 October 1943 | Landing accident Nr Bedford due to mechanical / material failure 30th Oct 43, pilot Lt Frank Kilcheski, two crew KIFA. |
Other Written Off |
10 November 1943 | Salvaged on Oct 10, 1943. | |
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF. |
Revisions
Added Some Punctuation in the "Summary biography" to aid readability.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / AAM Database / http://www.b24bestweb.com
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / AAM Database / http://www.b24bestweb.com
Corrected name of Joisey Bounce from Thundermug regarding Nov. 13,1943 crash.
Best web - B-24 - 42-40246 - Thunder Mug
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40246 - Thunder Mug
Black Sunday - Michael Hill
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / AAM Database / http://www.b24bestweb.com
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / AAM Database / http://www.b24bestweb.com