42-40316 - Snake Eyes

Object Number - UPL 15214 - The B-24D - 42-40316 - "Snake Eyes" - Flew on the Ploesti oil refinery raid. Crash landed, Sicily. - 1 KIA - 2 WIA. Aug 1, 1943.

The B-24D, Liberator, 42-40316, named, Snake Eyes, was in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron. Lt. Hillary Blevins and Copilot Lt. James O'Grady flew, Snake Eyes, on the deadly Ploesti oil refinery mission crewed mostly by replacements from the 389th Bomb Group. Snake Eyes, was damaged by flak over Ploesti and was unable to complete the long trip home to Benghazi. The two pilots crash landed the plane at Sicily. Gunner SSgt. Norris Deitrich was wounded by flak splinters but survived the mission. Gunner Earnie Martin was also hit by flak splinters over the target and died of his wounds. 1 KIA. 2 WIA. 1 Aug 43.

B-24D - Snake Eyes - Crewmen On The Ploesti Mission :

Hillary M. Blevins - Command Pilot
James E. O'Grady - Copilot - 93rd Bomb Group
William Toles - Navigator - 389th Bomb Group
Harold G. Moore - Bombardier - 389th Bomb Group
Harold G. Knotts - Engineer - 389th Bomb Group
Mark B. Weber - Radio Operator - 389th Bomb Group
John Probst - Tail Gunner - 389th Bomb Group
Norris F, Dietrich - Gunner - 389th Bomb Group

Barner F. Clemens - Gunner - 389th Bomb Group - WIA
Earnest V. Martin - Waist Gunner - 389th Bomb Group - KIA

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: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17061565 / O-728554
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33237890
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32271998
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist gunner

Places

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...

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Crash landed on Sicily. 1 KIA - 2 WIA. 1 Aug 43.

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.

Revisions

Date18 Mar 2023 05:57:43
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941 - 1947  -  Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.  p. 103                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Minor word changes. Removed the name, Snake Eyes. Unable to verify name.   -   Kickapoo

Date18 Mar 2023 05:51:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941 - 1947  -  Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.  p. 103                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Minor word changes. Removed the name, Snake Eyes. Unable to verify name.   -   Kickapoo

Date18 Mar 2023 04:50:18
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941 - 1947  -  Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.  p. 103                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Minor word changes   -   Kickapoo

Date18 Mar 2023 04:19:43
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941 - 1947  -  Robt. D. Archer & Victor G. Archer.  p. 103                                                                                                         -    Minor word changes   -   Kickapoo

Date18 Mar 2023 04:09:31
ContributorKickapoo
Date24 Mar 2022 06:17:55
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 06:14:19
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 06:11:01
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 06:08:26
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 06:06:50
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 06:03:09
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 03:53:17
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date24 Mar 2022 03:46:52
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Date30 Aug 2021 12:08:45
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Removed a couple of quote marks in the Markings section - Kickapoo

Date17 Aug 2021 13:56:56
ContributorEmily
Sources

Changed all instances of aircraft name into sentence case to as per best practice for accessibility.

Date13 Aug 2021 09:38:16
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Word and spacing changes - Kickapoo

Date13 Aug 2021 09:35:42
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Word changes - Kickapoo

Date13 Aug 2021 09:33:09
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40316 - SNAKE EYES

Date13 Aug 2021 09:28:54
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40316 - SNAKE EYES

Date13 Aug 2021 09:10:06
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Name changed until further references found. - Kickapoo

Date13 Aug 2021 08:57:05
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40316

Date13 Aug 2021 08:34:56
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - SNAKE EYES - 42-40316

42-40316: Gallery (3 items)