Howard Joseph LaLonde Jr

Military
media-47385.jpeg UPL 47385 Major Howard J. LaLonde - The Navigator on the B-24D, Stinger, (TDY) in the 98th Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave. 1 Aug 43. Major LaLonde had previously been part of Lt. Robert Wright's crew on, Old blister Butt.

Detail added. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 47385 - Major Howard J. LaLonde - The Navigator on the B-24D, Stinger, (TDY) in the 98th Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave. 1 Aug 43. Major LaLonde...

Major Howard J. LaLonde was a B-24 navigator, originally assigned and deployed to the 389th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force in Hethel, Britain in Lt. Robert Wright's crew in, Old Blister Butt. He was, then, detached and deployed (TDY) to the 415th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, at Benghazi, Libya, for Operation Tidal Wave, to bomb the Ploesti oil refineries. Maj. LaLonde flew on 26 combat missions. For the Ploesti mission he flew with his pilot from the 8th Air Force, Lt. Andrew Opsata, as Opsata's navigator on the B-24D Liberator, 41-11817, Stinger. Both planes and crews returned safely to Libya with only one of Stinger's crew members wounded - WIA. Lt. LaLonde's regular airplane had previously been Robert Wright's, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, which also flew on the Ploesti mission with Command Pilot Lt. Wright and his crew. 1 Aug 1943.



Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth 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
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32160105 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-666395
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Stinger
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Ole Irish
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Old Blister Butt - Widow
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 406th Bomb Squadron 564th Bomb Squadron 566th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Cleveland, OH 3 August 1918 Son of Howard J Sr and Adelaide LaLonde.

Enlisted

Cleveland, OH 4 August 1941 Cleveland, Ohio

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Navigator of B-24 Liberator 41-11817 'Stinger' participated in the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya with only one crewmember WIA.

Died

6 August 1975

Buried

Calvary Cemetery Springfield, Clark County, OH 9 August 1975 Calvary Cemetery Springfield, Clark County, Ohio

Other

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya Assigned to 415BS, 98BG, 9AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 41-11817 - Stinger

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ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40776 - Old Blister Butt

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ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Added detail. - Kickapoo

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. Spelling. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 41-11817 - Stinger

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Role/Job. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Details. - Kickapoo

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added connections to the 415 BS & 98 BG mentioned in the events section.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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Sources

USAAF Photo.

Howard Joseph LaLonde: Gallery (6 items)