Alfred David Cason
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 48525 - 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...
Sgt. Alfred David Cason was a gunner on the B-24D, Raunchy, flown on Operation Tidal Wave by Lt. Sam Neeley. Both Lt. Neeley and Sgt. Cason were Killed In Action (KIA) over Ploesti when their B-24D, Raunchy, hit a barrage balloon cable explosive. 1 Aug 43.
Gunner Sgt. Alfred D. Cason DFC MIA/KIA. MACR 169
Hometown: Savannah, Ga.
Squadron: 344th Bomb Squadron - 98th Bomb Group - 9th Air Force
Service Number : 14028237
Awards: : Distinguished Flying Cross with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster - Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters - Purple Heart
Target: Ploesti - White IV - Astra Romano Refinery
Missing Air Crew Report Details - USAAF MACR 169
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Aircraft Serial Number: 41-11819
Aircraft Model : B-24D
Aircraft Radio Call Letter : G
Aircraft Name: Raunchy
Location: Lost near the target, White IV, Ploesti, Romania
Cause: AA Balloon - Crew of 10 : 8KIA - 2POW
Sgt. Alfred "Al" Cason lost his life on Operation Tidal Wave, one of the most daring raids of WW2, coming in at tree top level to bomb and destroy the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti and Campina, Romania. For his many combat missions in North Africa and the Mediterranean theater of operations against the Germans during 1942 and 1943, Sgt. Cason was awarded the following medals : The Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster for valor on the Ploesti raid. - The Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters - The Purple Heart
Lt. Samuel R. Neeley and the crew of the 98th Bomb Group were briefed to fly on the left side of Flight One, the first wave of the 98th's Bomb Group's planes attacking White IV, the Astra Romano refinery complex. Immediately after bomb release, Raunchy, was hit by an AA balloon cable attached with explosive devices, which detonated and blew the wing off. MACR 169
The radio operator and a gunner, survived the crash and became POWs. Sgt. Cason appears on the Tablets Of The Missing at The Florence American Cemetery, Florence, Italy. - Find A Grave Memorial - 56362747. Cason's body was never identified or recovered.
Crew of Raunchy :
1st/Lt. Samuel R. Neeley - Pilot
1st/Lt. Joel I. Corn - Navigator
2nd/Lt. Herman H. Henslee - Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. Eugeen L. Rodgen - Bombardier
Sgt. Robert P. Schultz - Gunner
Sgt.Charles P. Geers - Gunner
Sgt. Earl T. Edelen - Gunner
Sgt. Alfred D. Cason - Gunner
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force Twelfth 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 344th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14028237
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Gunner
- 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
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Raunchy
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
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...
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Killed in action |
1 August 1943 |
Revisions
The Great Ground-Air Battle Of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
FindAGrave - Sgt. Alfred D. Cason