John Madison Oaks
Military
media-14353.jpeg
UPL 14353
The flight crew poses in front of the B-24D Liberator, 41-11817, Stinger, in the 415th Bomb Squadron - the 98th Bomb Group - and the 9th Air Force. Flown on Operation Tidal wave over Ploesti, Romania. Pilot Lt. Andrew Opsata, and CoPilot Lt. Louis Quaglino, with their Bombardier, Lt. Donald Di Coscoe, and Bombardier, Lt. Howard LaLonde, launched from Benghazi, Libya, on the Ploesti mission and successfully returned with only 1 crew member, Gunner SSgt, John Gormey, wounded. WIA. Aug 1, 1943.
Best Web - B-24 - 41-11817 - Stinger
Assigned to 415BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Crew member of B-24 Liberator 41-11817 'Stinger' participated in the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya with only one crew member WIA.
Awards: DFC, AM, PH, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Stinger
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Monmouth, IL | 9 May 1915 | Son of John Henderson and Katherine [Whelan] Oaks |
Enlisted |
Chicago, IL | 28 April 1941 | Chicago, Illinois |
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Crew member of B-24 Liberator #4111817 'Stinger' participated in the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid returning safely to Libya with only one crewmember WIA. |
Other Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | Assigned to 415BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. | |
Died |
Davenport, IA | ||
Buried |
Warren County Memorial Park Monmouth, Warren County, IL | Warren County Memorial Park Monmouth, Warren County, Illinois |