UPL 48525

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Lt. Sam Neeley's B-24D, Raunchy, and it's crew. Pilot Lt. Sam Neeley is in the front row, second from right, smiling. Lt. Neeley and most of his crew were killed (KIA), over Ploesti, after, Raunchy, snagged a barrage balloon cable on their right wing, pulling an explosive charge on the cable down, which detonated on contact with the wing and almost blew the wing off, crashing the airplane into the ground engulfed in flames. Lt. Neeley and seven of his crewmen were killed in the crash. 8 KIA. Two crewmen, SSgt Schiffmacher and SSgt Nick Allen, survived the crash and were captured wounded. 2 WIA - POW. August 1, 1943 1

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Units

344th Bomb Squadron

  • 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.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth Air Force Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Alfred David Cason

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14028237
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Samuel Robert Neeley

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17024743 / O-728710
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: B-24D Pilot

Aircraft

B-24D, 41-11819, 9th AF 98th BG 344th BS. Shot down over White IV. 1 Aug 43

41-11819

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Raunchy
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Detail, numbers, and spelling changes for accuracy. - Kickapoo

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Aircraft punctuation. - Kickapoo

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz - p. 151, 152, 225

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Into The Fire - Duane Schultz

Date: 5 Nov 2022 07:39:47
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Wording changes. - Kickapoo

Date: 17 Mar 2021 11:01:03
ContributorKickapoo
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Raunchy'