William Girard Pimm

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

Object Number - 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...

SSgt. William Girard Pimm was assigned to the 415th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force. He was a tail gunner and crew member of the B-24D Liberator, 41-11817, named, Stinger, and participated in Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, returning safely to Libya with only one crew member WIA. 1 Aug 1943



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

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

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: 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

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Haven, CT 28 June 1921 Son of G Harold and Rose R [Huss] Pimm.

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 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 crewmember WIA.

Died

Newington, CT 31 December 1997

Other

Assigned

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

Buried

State Veterans Cemetery Middletown, Middlesex County CT State Veterans Cemetery Middletown, Middlesex County Connecticut, USA.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Wording. details added. - Kickapoo

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added connections to the 415 BS & 98 BG mentioned in the events section.
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

USAAF Photo.

William Girard Pimm: Gallery (1 items)