Harvey L Treace

Military
media-39573.jpeg UPL 39573 The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/ Bombardier - Lt. Norman Whalen Navigator/Nose Gunner - Kneeling, second from right, 1st Lt. Raymond Hubbard/ Radio Operator/ Gunner, SSgt. Harvey Treace/Gunner, TSgt Clarence Weckesser/ Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner, SSgt. Neville Benson/Waist Gunner, SSgt. Joseph LaBranch/ Gunner, SSgt. Frederick Leard/Waist Gunner . This photo taken the next morning after the Ploesti mission. Monday August 2nd, 1943.

Black Sunday - Ploesti - Michael Hill

Object Number - UPL 39573 - The B-24D - Hail Columbia, after the Ploesti mission and crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943. From left : Lt. Harry Korger/...

SSgt Harvey L. Treace - Born Dec 19,1918 -

Died Oct 14, 1989 - Louisville Kentucky - 70 years old

S/Sgt Treace enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on Nov 25, 1942. He qualified for aircraft gunnery school in the Army Air Corps and was assigned as a gunner to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bomb Squadron and deployed to North Africa with the 98th Bomb Group in early 1943. SSgt. Treace flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the famous mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. He was normally part of Lt. John Young's crew on the B-24D, named, KICKAPOO, but, with his pilot, Lt. Young, and the rest of Young's regular crew, just a few days before the mission, Treace was assigned to fly in the Lead aircraft, HAIL COLUMBIA, with Col. John R. Kane and Lt. John Young, assigned as Kane's copilot for the Ploesti mission. Sgt. Treace and his fellow gunners, as they had done many times before, successfully defended their airplane against heavy enemy ground and air defenses at Ploesti, damaging several attacking fighter planes and allowing his two pilots and bombardier to lead three following Bomb Groups to their Initial Points and, then, to find and successfully bomb their target, White IV, the Astra Romano Refinery complex, while the 44th Bomb Group led by Col. Leon Johnson found and bombed his target, White V, the Columbia Aquila Refinery. And the following 389th Bomb Group, also, successfully found and bombed their targets at Campina, Romania, although, with heavy losses.



SSgt Treace and all of his crew survived the Ploesti mission and the crash landing of their crippled B-24, HAIL COLUMBIA, at Nicosia, Cyprus. August 1, 1943. Harvey Treace received the Distinguished Flying Cross medal for his actions over Ploesti. He survived WWII and died on Oct 14, 1989.

Connections

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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 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-29680
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer / Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16023226 / O-54160
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Hail Columbia - Little Chief Big Dog - Grumpy
  • Unit: 376th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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ContributorKickapoo
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Minor word and spelling corrections - John S Young Jr

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ContributorKickapoo
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fold3 - Harvey L Treace

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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fold 3 - Harvey L Treace ----- Details and puctuation added for clarity - John S Young Jr

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ContributorKickapoo
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fold 3 - Harvey L Treace

Harvey L Treace: Gallery (1 items)