Rexford Harwell Rhodes

Military

Assigned 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Crew member of B-24 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted by enemy fighters over Bulgaria.



Awards: DFC, AM, PH, 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: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15088126
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Northern Star, Doc
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Miss Fortune
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stoddard, MO 4 December 1918 Son of Dolison Franklin and Ida Mae [Harwell] Rhodes.

Enlisted

Jefferson Barracks, MO 4 January 1941 Jefferson Barracks, Missouri

Died

22 February 1944

Buried

Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay, St. Louis County, MO 16 June 1950 Re_interred Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay, St. Louis County, Missouri

Based

Assigned

Benina 22 February 1944 Assigned 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Added associations to the 343rd BS & 98th BG listed in the "Summary biography".

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes