James R Vest

Military
media-55931.jpeg UPL 55931 Crewmen working on the B-24D, Euroclydon The Storm. Pilot Lt. Enoch M. Porter, Jr. Lost on Operation Tidal Wave, over Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 43. The Storm, B-24-75-CO, in Britain, originally in the 8th Air Force in the U.K. in the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. With many other 8th Air Force planes, it was detached temporarily (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa, for Operation Tidal Wave. Shot down over it's target. Failed To Return (FTR). 1 Aug 1943. MACR 6465.

Note : the RCL "K" on the RH vertical fin. 1943The B-24D Liberator bomber, 42-40612, named, Euroclydon The Storm, and most of it's crew, was lost on Operation Tidal Wave, the large bombing mission to Ploesti, Romania. The aircraft took a direct flak hit approaching it's target, igniting its two long range fuselage bomb bay tanks. The pilot, Lt. Enoch Porter, was observed attempting to climb to 300 feet to give his crew enough altitude to bail out . But, with the aircraft, now completely engulfed in fire, broke apart in mid air and crashed in flames on a school at Plopu, Romania. 1 Aug, 1943. - 8 KIA -
3 POW. - MACR 6465

B-24D, 42-40612, The Storm, B-24-75-CO, in Britain, originally in the 8th Air Force in the U.K. in the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 328th Bomb Squadron. With many other 8th Air Force planes, it was detached temporarily (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa, for Operation Tidal Wave. Failed To Return (FTR). 1 Aug 1943. Note : the RCL "K" on the RH vertical fin. 1943


Detail changes. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 55931 - Crewmen working on the B-24D, Euroclydon The Storm. Pilot Lt. Enoch M. Porter, Jr. Lost on Operation Tidal Wave, over Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 43....

Sgt. James Vest from the 8th Air Force in Britain, was the tail gunner on the B-24D, 42-40612, Euroclydon The Storm, on Operation Tidal Wave to Ploesti, Romania. The Euroclydon, on temporary duty (TDY) to the 9th AF for the Ploesti mission, was hit by flak and crashed while approaching it's refinery target. Sgt. West was one of three crewmen, who bailed out successfully at low altitude, was captured, and was prisoner for the rest of the war. 11 KIA. 3 POW

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Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Euroclydon The Storm
  • Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of war

1 August 1943

Born

Baraboo, Wisconsin

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40612 - Euroclydon The Storm

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40612 - Euroclydon The Storm

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6465

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