42-40655 - Four Eyes - Damfino

Object Number - UPL 52281 - B-24D Liberator 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, and crew lost on the Ploesti raid. 1 Aug 43. MACR 174 ~ William R DeBusk : Navigator ...
The B-24D bomber, 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, flown by Lt. Donald J. Hadcock, was assigned to the 343rd Bombing Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force. B-24D, Four Eyes - Damfino, Crew On The Ploesti Mission : ◼ William R. DeBusk :: Navigator
Four Eyes, was lost on Operation Tidal Wave, Ploesti Romania. Shot down by enemy fighters, lost near the target. 10 KIA. Failed To Return. FTR. 1 Aug 43. MACR 174 - Pilot Lt. Lawrence Haddock
◼Robert C. Elliott :: Gunner
◼Zelwood A. Gravlin :: Gunner
◼Lawrence J. Hadcock :: Pilot
◼James B. Hale :: Engineer
◼Ralph D. Kolb :: Gunner
◼John E. Kraft :: Co-Pilot
◼Eugene J. O'Mara :: Gunner
◼Lawrence E. Reitz :: Radio Operator
◼Peter A. Timpo :: Bombardier - Contributor - Brendan Wood
Connections
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Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18074761 / O-670102
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38013630
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31125292
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12051931 / O-793322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38088239
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Gunner
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
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Four Eyes - Damfino
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed To Return FTR |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Failed To Return - 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, Shot down by enemy fighters, lost near the target. 10 KIA MACR 174 |
Assigned |
Benina, Libya | Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40655 - Four eyes - Damfino
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40665 - Four Eyes - Damfino
HonorStates.org - Eugene J. O'Mara
Punctuation. - Kickapoo
Best Web - 42-40655 - Four Eyes - Damfino
Punctuation, spacing spelling. - Kickapoo
Joe Poire, from web site "Nose Art" under B24D 42-40655
AAM Database / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 174