98th Bomb Group
Group
The 98th trained for bombardment missions with B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942.
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345th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
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1st Lt Joseph E. Finneran 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.
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RAF Form 441A Sortie Reports for the 98th Bomb Group on Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing of Ploesti. - 1 August 1943.
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B-24D, Black Jack, 41-23661, with, the B-24D, Valient Virgin's, vertical stabilizer fin installation to repair battle damage to, Black Jack's, flak damaged fin, over Ploesti. The fin was, apparently, removed undamaged and robbed (serviceable) by, Black Jack's, mechanics from the, Valient Virgin, some time after the Ploesti mission, on 1 Aug 43, still painted with the olive drab camouflage paint from the 8th Air Force ETO markings, and still showing, Valient Virgin's abbreviated serial number, 240765. 5-7 Aug 43.
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B-24D - Chug-A-Lug - RCL “V” of the 98th Bomb Group, the 345th Bomb Squadron, and the 9th Air Force, was flown by Lt. LeRoy Byron Morgan on the Ploesti mission. Returned to base at Benghazi, Libya, with one crewman KIA, and one WIA. 1 Aug 43.
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T/Sgt William Edward Treichler
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PHOTO : the B-24D, Lil Joe, with a crewman, possibly, the tail gunner, SSGT. Roy Carney. - B-24D, Lil Joe, B-24-D-CO, 41-11886, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron. Left Side : A dice roll combination of 4, in craps, is referred to as a, "Little Joe", score, hence, the bomber's name, Lil Joe. Lil Joe was lost on Operation Tidal Wave. Aug 1, 1943.
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~ Note : Photo of, Black Jack, 41-23661, flown by Pilot Lt. Delbert Hahn, with an apparently robbed part installed, from the B-24D, Valient Virgin, one of, Valient Virgin's, vertical stabilizer fins with, Valient Virgin's, ETO olive drab paint, and it's abbreviated serial number, 240765. This picture of, Black Jack, 41-23661, taken by color photographer Ivan Dmitri after the Ploesti mission, shows that the abbreviated serial number, 240765, the olive drab paint on the inside of the RH vertical stabilizer, just installed on this plane, are original parts from, Valient Virgin. But, somehow, this usable tail fin from, Valient Virgin, was robbed and installed on Lt. Del Hahn's, Black Jack, 41-23661, which had landed in Sicily, with flak damage after the Ploesti mission, or back at Benghazi, after Aug, 5-8, 1943, when this photo was taken.
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John Morgester is on lower left. Man circled is Joe Whitehead
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B-24D - Approaches the Astra Romano Refinery, code named, "White IV" at Ploest. Romania Aug 1, 1943
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B-24D-85-BO #42-40654 "Kate Smith" Code: R 98th BG - 345th BS - 12th AF
Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrison Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic crossing from Brazil to Liberia, then transited east across central Africa to Sudan. Lastly the group reformed with the ground echelon which traveled by ship around the Cape of Good Hope, joining with air echelon in British Palestine.
Assigned to the newly formed IX Bomber Command, the squadron operated from airfields in Egypt; Libya and Tunisia supporting the British Eighth Army in the Western Desert Campaign. Also staged long-range strategic bombardment of enemy military and industrial targets in Sicily; Italy and the Southern Balkans, including attacking the Nazi-controlled oilfields at Ploiești, Romania.
Reassigned to Fifteenth Air Force in southern Italy; continuing strategic bombardment raids on Occupied France; Southern Germany; Austria and targets in the Balkans. In the summer of 1944, the squadron participated in the invasion of southern France, assisted in the Soviet advance into the Balkans, and supported the partisans and guerrillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries.
The squadron returned to the United States in May 1945; being redesignated as a B-29 Superfortress heavy bomb squadron and began training for deployment to the Central Pacific Area and conduct strategic bombardment raids over the Japanese Home Islands. Training continued until the unit was inactivated at the end of July, its equipment and personnel being merged into the other three squadrons of its host group.
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Andrew Anderson
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Flew the 1-Aug-43 Ploesti mission in B-24 42-40663 'Maternity Ward'. Survived the ditching and 15 x days in a dingy with pilot John V Ward. Washed up on Italian held isaland Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 224 ... -
Hilary Blevins
Military | Major | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the bombing mission on Ploesti, on 1-Aug-43, flying in the B-24D Liberator, 42-40316, Snake Eyes. Awards: DFC (1OLC), AM (6OLC), ACM, EAME with at least two campaign stars, WW II Victory Medal -
Prentice Boston
Military | Staff Sergeant | B-24 Waist Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
SSgt. Prentice Boston was a waist gunner assigned to the B-24D, Chug-A-Lug, in the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, in the USAAF. He was part of John Childers crew. Completed his combat tour and returned to USA with, Chug... -
William Buchanan
Military | First Lieutenant | Co-pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. John Dore crew. Missed the Ploesti oil refinery due to dysentery. ETD Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME. -
Roy Carney
Military | Staff Sergeant | B-24 Tail Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
SSgt Roy E. Carney was the tail gunner on the B-24D Liberator, 41-24195, Lil Joe. ... -
Eldon Carter
Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Tail Gunner B-24 42-40312 'Aire Lobo', Lost over Ploesti 1 Aug 43 - A/C was hit by flak before the target and again in the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. A/C came down in the target area... -
John Childers
Military | First Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Lt. John William Childers was a B-24 pilot, assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, in the USAAF. He flew on Operation Tidal Wave, ... -
Barner Clemens
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40316. His DFC and PH were awarded for the Ploesti raid. Awards: DFC, PH, ACM, EAME Campaign Medal with one campaign star, WWII Victory Medal -
George Davies
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Gunner B-24 42-40312 'Aire Lobo', Lost over Ploesti 1-Aug-43 - A/C was hit by flak before the target and again in the cockpit area after bombing. Gunners believed wounded. A/C came down in the target area striking... -
Norris Dietrich
Military | Staff Sergeant | 98th Bomb Group
Sgt. Norris Dietrich took part in Operation Tidal Wave, on the Ploesti oil refineries flying in the B-24D Liberator, 42-40316, Snake Eyes. 1 Aug 1943. -
42-40402 - The Sandman
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator bomber, named, The Sandman, was named, and flown, by Lt. Robert Sternfels and his co-pilot, Lt. Barney Jackson, in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron, on Operation Tidal Wave, the famous mission to... -
41-11886 - Lil Joe
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, named, Lil Joe, 41-11886, was flown by Pilot Lt. Lindley Hussey on Operation Tidal Wave to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Lil Joe, was shot down and lost on the Ploesti mission. FTR. On approach to it's target, Lil Joe, was... -
42-40102 - Old Baldy
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D named, Old Baldy, was assigned to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron, USAAF. Aircraft was lost, Failed To Return (FTR), with Lt. John J. Dore Jr.'s crew, after the bombing mission over Ploesti, Romania. Old... -
41-24246 'Semper felix'
B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator 41-24246 'Semper Felix' exploded having released its bombs over target as a result of ground fire on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid. Pilot Lt. August W. Sulflow. 9 KIA 1 POW. MACR 225. -
42-40991 Kate Smith
B-24 Liberator
Shot down on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, A/C took a direct hit on the cockpit while at the target area at an estimated 250 ft. The aircraft caught fire in the bomb bay and exploded in mid air. Miraculously copilot Lt. Foster was blown clear... -
41-23795 'Miss Julie' 'Sneezy'
B-24 Liberator
Equipped with radar and was used in a sea search role early in its career and may have been operated by other than the 343rd BS. ... -
41-23661 - Black Jack
B-24 Liberator
Note : This B-24D, 41-23661, one of 2 B-24Ds named, Black Jack, in the MTO, this one with the nose art of a kicking mule, was flown by Lt. Delbert Hahn and his crew. ... -
41-11766 - Chug-A-Lug
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator, bomber, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, was in the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force, and flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the low level mission to bomb the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, on the... -
42-40316 - Snake Eyes - You're Faded
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, Liberator, 42-40316, named, Snake Eyes, was in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron. It flew on the deadly Ploesti oil refinery mission crewed mostly by replacements from the 389th Bomb Group. Snake Eyes, was... -
41-11836 - Lil De-icer
B-24 Liberator
Note : This B-24D Liberator airplane, 41-11836, should not be mistaken for another B-24D, 42-40965, also named, Lil De-icer, which was in the 11th Air Force, the 28th Bomb Group, and the 404th Bomb Squadron, in the Pacific Theater of Operations. It...
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 01 November 2016 02:50:45 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with type, category, name, description, air forces, aircraft types, unit encompassing associations, aircraft associations and media associations |
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