Frank Paliga

Military

Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-23817.



While on TDY to 9th AF October 1, 1943, on a mission to Weiner Neustadt, 42-41017 was attacked by fighters over the target. 2 engines were on fire when the B-24 exploded and crashed. Prisoner of War (POW).



Quoted by Lundy that his original crew was Lt. Abernathy's. As he had missed a mission, Abernathy's crew had completed 25 but Paliga needed one more so was assigned to this crew. Paliga reports he was imprisoned at Stalag 17B as was tail gunner William Brady.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

67th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

41-23817

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Suzy Q
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

42-41017

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of war

1 October 1943

Born

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added " / " in the "Role/job" field as a separator to aid readability.

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Ploesti Sortie Reports, 44th Bomb Group

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15559,44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 129-130, Losses of the 8th and 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey p. 298