We are currently working on a site-wide upgrade which will be completed in September 2022
You will not be able to search, add or edit information in the American Air Museum archive while this takes place.
You can find out more about our plans here
Military
Joined 6/19/43.
DS/Bengahzi 6/26/43.
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-24211.
DS/Tunis 9/16/43.
On October 1, 1943, when he was wounded, the crew was TDY to the 9th AAC. On a mission to Weiner Neustadt, 41-24009 'Margaret Ann' was attacked by flak and fighters. Losing #1 radio and hydrolic systems, Pilot Kessler landed at a Canadian base outside of Bari, Italy. Spent a few days at the base working on the plane.
Returned to Base via ATC 10/4/43. Returned to England.
Group
The 44th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was activated 15-January-1942 at McDill Field, Florida and equipped with B-24Cs. The Group moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana and acted as a training unit for the 90th 93rd and 98th Bomb Groups and flew anti...
Squadron
B-24 Liberator
A/C flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by 1st Lt Walter T Holmes and returned safely to Libya.
1 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B-24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57...
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Born | Mankato, Minn |
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 23 March 2020 12:18:51 | general ira snapsorter | Changes to biography, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:11:36 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Webb Todd, 44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 133-134 |
||
