TIDAL WAVE/Ploesti B-24D Aircraft

TIDAL WAVE B-24D Aircraft
Updated 131130
© 2013 David H. Klaus, www.Low-Level-Ploesti.org

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IMPORTANT NOTES – Read First

Having been in the scale model decal business for a very long time, I have extremely strict standards for including “confirmed” information. A ton of bad aircraft details have been published (Hill’s Black Sunday book is one of the worst offenders), and this web page is a first start at getting every single TIDAL WAVE correctly identified. I know a lot, but I certainly don’t know everything, so if you can confirm specific pieces of UNCONFIRMED data below, please email me at this address. Please don’t tell me something is written in some book, unless it’s a crewman’s diary or history written by a crewman. I’ve got all the Ploesti books, including some pretty obscure ones, but you never know if a crewman has privately published something you haven’t heard about.

A good example of this is Lloyd “Pete” Hughes Medal Of Honor B-24D. We confirm the serial from the Sortie Report. We know from a letter a crewman sent home prior to the mission that they named the ship “Ole Kickapoo” (not to be confused with the “Kickapoo” that crashed on takeoff). While the letter home specifically states the crew had not painted artwork on the plane, blow-ups of the series of official photos taken of this ship on fire and crashing clearly show a large white image of something (we can’t tell what, but it may be a stylized “Kickapoo”) painted on the left side nose. There’s no doubt something was painted there; we just don’t know what for sure. It’s definitely not a huge hole in the bombardier-navigator compartment, and it appears on all the photos where that part of the nose can be seen.

Verifying full ACSNs (aircraft serial numbers) is relatively easy in the official records, except for the 376th, which used Field Numbers and individual aircraft letters. However, as mentioned I hold a high standard when it comes to aircraft nicknames, because over the decades I've seen so many aircraft misidentified. The list below will not show an aircraft name as CONFIRMED unless it is shown in a very clear photo that shows both the name and serial number. It is not enough for a photo to show the name and Field Number (as in the 376th) or name and letter only, because in far too many cases, historically, these matchups have been wrong. Personal accounts written AT THE TIME are acceptable confirming references, but too often accounts written long after the war have innocent errors of fact and are generally less useful as confirmation.

Let me give you a personally painful example of this. When we did the research and artwork for my PYN-up Decals Ploesti Heroes decal set, Brian Flavelle’s “Wongo Wongo” was a lock. Good photos and confirmed participation in TIDAL WAVE. The second ship choice was more or less open; I had a bunch of favorites but right at that time a local modeler came to me with a bunch of excellent photos of an original (and very long lived) 389^thship, “Fightin’ Sam.” He told me, in good faith, his late father had was a crew chief on one of the TIDAL WAVE ships and that a friend of his dad’s was crew chief on one of the other TW ships-Fightin’ Sam. He’d interviewed the old gentleman and copied his photos, so we were set to go. This occurred long before I started my detailed TIDAL WAVE research, and although I was an expert on 44^th aircraft, not so much the other groups. Anyway, we added Fightin’ Sam marking to our Ploesti decal set in good faith. Unfortunately, I now know Sam did not in fact go to Ploesti (although his artwork is fantastic). Oops. I’m not going to make a mistake like that again. Everybody involved used good faith, but at the end of the day Fightin’ Sam was not a Ploesti veteran.

Verifying aircraft letter is relatively easy in the official records for all groups. However, there are multiple instances where the letter itself is confirmed, but the additional mark (underscore ("_"), following minus ("-") sign, bar over the top of the letter, etc.) is sometimes reported and sometimes not. Multiple 389th documents report only the aircraft letter for a specific ship, but photos clearly show a following minus sign ("-"). Therefore, I prefer photographic evidence showing both the ACSN and letter when possible.

My rigid rule for "CONFIRMED" status: information confirmed by 1) official documents that list any of the following: full serial, "last three" of the serial, Field Number (for 376th only), aircraft letter, aircraft nickname. Aircraft nicknames are VERY seldom mentioned in official documents. Absent official mention, aircraft nicknames must be confirmed by a photo showing BOTH the ACSN and nickname.

Frankly, while this information is not central to my TIDAL WAVE documentary, as a modeler I personally want to know this stuff as well as provide a research tool for future modelers and historians. This is Version 1 so I may have typos that will get corrected in future versions. As noted, if you can add CONFIRMED information to this table please email me here.

SEE ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT NOTES BELOW TABLES

TABLE CELL COLOR CODE

Light Green	Confirmed data from official documents and/or clear photos
Light Yellow	UNCONFIRMED data reported in one or more postwar publications
Light Blue	Simply differentiates between alternating bomb groups for readability
BOLD RED CHARACTERS	In the Comments column, information reported in BOLD RED LETTERS is confirmed
All other colors	Ignore

Legend

Gp	Bomb Group
Sq	Bomb Squadron
Serial	Aircraft Serial Number (ACSN)
Note	Ignore this (for my use)
Last3	Last three digits of the ACSN (typically shown on the official documentation)
Block	B-24 production block
Code	Aircraft code letter or number (plane-in-group code) painted on fuselage, tail, and/or engine nacelles
Pilot	You can figure this one out
SR	TIDAL WAVE Sortie Report available (only a couple are missing)
MACR	Missing Air Crew Report number
Date	Date of MACR
Nickname	Aircraft nickname; not always painted on the aircraft!
Comments	You can figure this one out too…

Gp	Sq	Serial	Note	Last3	Block	Code	Pilot	SR	MACR	Date	Nickname	Comments
44	66	41-23778		778	D-5-CO	F	Felber	X	3150	430816	Lady Luck	Took off spare; bombed target
44	66	41-23811		811	D-5-CO	K	Miller, R	X			Fascinatin' Witch	Cat A; Malta; bombed target
44	66	41-23936		936	D-13-CO	J	Flaherty	X			Queen Ann	NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; bombed target
44	66	41-24015		015	D-15-CO	R	Winger	X	2410	430801	Wing Dinger	Down at target; Missing Aircrew Recap Form states letter R
44	66	41-24153		153	D-20-CO	L	Lasco	X	2414	430801	The Sad Sack	POW Romania; NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; THE NAME OF THIS SHIP WAS "THE SAD SACK," NOT "THE SAD SACK II." The Roman numeral "II" is a misinterpretation of the quote mark after the name.
44	66	42-40182		182	D-35-CO	A	Gentry	X	2415	430801	Forky II	Down at target; POW Romania
44	66	42-40375		375	D-53-CO	G	Scrivner	X	1646	430801	Scrappy II	Belly landed just after target; KIA; MACR SAYS 42-40325!; SR says 375; Catania 430710 SR says 375/B; bombed target
44	66	42-40764		764	D-95-CO	M	Irby	X			Helen B. Happy	Landed Benina damaged; Catania/Irby 430710 SR says NO LETTER!; bombardier failed to release bombs over target, bombed railway bridge
44	66	42-40777		777	D-95-CO	N	Hughes, C	X			Flossie Flirt	Interned Turkey; bombed target
44	67	41-23779		779	D-5-CO	G	Henderson				4Q2	42-40779/P CAME DOWN WITH 389TH
44	67	41-23817		817	D-5-CO	L	Brandon	X	2445/2361	430816	Suzy Q	Johnson MOH; bombed target
44	67	41-24024		024	D-15-CO	34	Carpenter	X	15859	430801	Bewitching Witch ???????	Ditched; bombed target
44	67	41-24229		229	D-25-CO	P	Cameron	X			Buzzin' Bear	Bombed target
44	67	41-24232		232	D-25-CO	M	Hill	X			Calaban	Bombed target but cut off by pink B-24
44	67	42-40267		267	D-45-CO	N	Mitchell	X			Horsefly	Interned Turkey, bombed target; spelled Horse Fly?
44	67	42-40371		371	D-53-CO	Q	Reinhart	X	2412	430801	G. I. Gal	POW Romania PROBABLY 42-40367; MACR IS 42-40371; SR says 371/Q; bombed target
44	67	42-40780		780	D-95-CO	H	Jones	X	2411	430801	Available Jones	Ditched off Greece; POW Italy
44	67	42-63761		761	D-1-CF	D	Weaver	X	2413	430801	Lil' Abner??	POW Romania; NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; Li'l ABNER RS nose photo shows code 41; earlier photo in Lloyd captioned 41-11997, however the photo just below it captioned as Li'l Abner clearly shows ACSN 41-11779; BEST AVAILABLE PHOTO OF 41-11761 SHOWS NOSE ART ON RS NOSE (NOT CLEAR) THAT ALMOST CERTAINLY IS NOT LIL ABNER; THIS AIRCRAFT WAS GREEN (CONFIRMED); CONCLUSIVELY WAS NOT THE PINK LIL ABNER FROM THE 376TH.
44	68	41-23699		699	D-1-CO	P top bar	Phillips	X			Lemon Drop	Bombed target
44	68	41-23788		788	D-5-CO	D	Hughes, W	X			Avenger	Bombed target
44	68	41-23813		813	D-5-CO	V	Diehl	X			Victory Ship	V FOR VICTORY per 5 Jul list; seriously shot up; bombed target
44	68	41-24211		211	D-20-CO	U	Holmes	X			Wing And A Prayer	Spare with no name per 5 Jul list; no letter on SR; bombed target
44	68	41-24225		225	D-25-CO	T	Alexander	X			Flak Alley	NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; bombed target
44	68	42-24995		995	D-120-CO	C	Houston	X	3147/2416	430801	Satan's Hellcats ???????	Down at target after bombing; KIA
44	68	42-40071		071	D-30-CO	C	Jansen	X			Margaret Ann II	MARGARET-ANN per 5 Jul list; bombed target
44	68	42-40373		373	D-53-CO	Z	Shannon	X	3558	430816	Natchez Belle 13 ??????	NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; bombed target
44	68	42-40731		731	D-90-CO	N top bar	Martin	X			Hag Mag The Mothball Queen/Eager Eve????	NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; no letter in SR; bombed target
44	506	41-24201		201	D-20-CO	O top bar	Strong	X			Baldy And His Brood	Bombed target
44	506	41-24234		234	D-25-CO	U top bar	Beam	X			Mr 5 By 5	MR FIVE BY FIVE per 5 Jul list; bombed target
44	506	41-24235		235	D-25-CO	C top bar	Bunker	X			Earthquake McGoon	ONLY "Earthquake" painted on nose; never got around to painting "McGoon"; bombed target
44	506	41-24282		282	D-25-CO	Y	Slough	X			Ruth-Less	Bombed target
44	506	41-24283		283	D-25-CO	Z	McAtee	X			Old Crow	Bombed target
44	506	42-40172		172	D-35-CO	C	Anderson	X			Lynn Bari II	Bombed target
44	506	42-40370		370	D-53-CO	V	Whitlock	X			Heaven Can Wait	NO NICKNAME as of 5 Jul; jettisoned bombs; landed Cyprus
44	506	42-40606		606	D-75-CO	X	Larson	X	3559/2451	430816	Timb-A-A-Ah	TIMB-A-A-A-AH per 5 Jul list; bombed target
44	506	42-40778		778	D-95-CO	T	Austin	X			Southern Comfort	No letter in SR; bombed target
44	506	42-41013		013	D-125-CO	D top bar	Stevens	X			Trouble/Texan II ?????	No letter in SR; bombed target; replacement aircraft direct from UK
93	328	41-23711		711	D-1-CO	B	Hickman	X			Jerk's Natural	SR says 611/B; bombed target
93	328	41-23722		722	D-1-CO	C	Martin	X			Bomerang	Bombed target
93	328	41-24192		192	D-20-CO	A	Avendano	X			Dogatch Raiders	SR states Avandane (which is a misspelling) of Avandano; bombed target on 40°
93	328	42-40128		128	D-30-CO	J	Tate	X			Ball of Fire Jr	MAY have bombed; SR not clear
93	328	42-40246		246	D-40-CO	F	Longnecker	X			Thundermug	Bombed target from south
93	328	42-40604		604	D-75-CO	C	Ford	X			Satan's Angels	Bombed lumber yard
93	328	42-40608		608	D-75-CO	M	Turner	X			The Urgin' Virgin/Vulgar Virgin?	Interned Turkey; bombed target
93	328	42-40612		612	D-75-CO	K	Porter	X	6465/332	430801	Euroclydon	Missing over target (?) recheck MACR
93	328	42-40994		994	D-120-CO	D	Baker	X	331	430801	Hell's Wench	MOH, hit before target; down at target; Dan states D-bar
93	329	41-23682		682	D-1-CO	Q	Brown G	X			Blasted Event	Later CSAF/CJCS; SR not clear whether he bombed
93	329	41-23810		810	D-5-CO	S	Hurd	X			TARFU	Jettisoned bombs; nose art but no name? Lloyd states this is Floogie Boo, 41-11810/Q
93	329	41-24230		230	D-25-CO	Z	McBride	X	XXXXX	430801	Jo Jo's Special Delivery	Missing over target; MACR SAYS LEFT SITE 7 NEVER CAUGHT UP NEVER SEEN
93	329	42-40127		127	D-30-CO	O	Merrill	X			Thar She Blows "Again"	Bombed a target on 40°
93	329	42-40765		765	D-95-CO	T	DeMont	X			Valiant Virgin	SR Demont; jettisoned bombs
93	329	42-40781		781	D-95-CO	U	Harms	X	327	430801	Hell's Angels	Down over target
93	329	42-40804		804	D-100-CO	X	Meehan	X	328	430801	Bertha	Down over target
93	330	41-11613	HP	613	D-80-CO	E	Teltser	X	333	430801	Pudgy	Missing over target; last seen smoking after leaving target
93	330	41-23717		717	D-1-CO	H	Roper	X	334	430801	Exterminator	Lost in midair over Yugoslavia on return; FLOWN DOWN BY 44
93	330	41-24109		109	D-20-CO	C	Roche	X			Ready And Waiting	Bombed target
93	330	41-24121		121	D-20-CO	J	Olliffe	X	462	430801	Let Er Rip	Lost in midair over Yugoslavia on return
93	330	41-24147		147	D-20-CO	A	Potts	X			Duchess	Bombed on 35°
93	330	41-24226		226	D-25-CO	L	Stewart	X			Utah Man/Joisey Bounce	Bombed unknown target
93	330	42-40609		609	D-75-CO	I top bar	Long	X	335	430801	Jersey Bounce	SR says I; missing over target; last seen smoking after leaving target; attacked by IAR-80 BEFORE target and tail gunner killed per Alex;
93	409	41-23742		742	D-1-CO	R	McFarland	X			Liberty Lad	Bombed from west
93	409	41-23754		754	D-5-CO	U	Wilkinson	X			Little Lady	Interned Turkey; bombed from 50'
93	409	41-24105		105	D-20-CO	Q	Dessert	X			Tupelo Lass	Bombed on 30°
93	409	41-24215		215	D-20-CO	S	Kendall	X			Lucky	Salvoed bombs into storage tanks area
93	409	41-24298		298	D-25-CO	V	Brown, L	X			Queenie	Bombed on 46°; nickname confirmed in Dmitri notes
93	409	42-40265		265	D-45-CO	W top bar	Womble	X	330	430801	Honky Tonk Gal	Shot down at target; on ground 10 miles past target; photos taken by 44th
93	409	42-40610		610	D-75-CO	Y	League	X			Death Dealer	Bombed at 10°
93	409	42-40611		611	D-75-CO	W	Geron	X				Bombed on 100°
93	409	42-40617		617	D-80-CO	N	Stampolis	X	6464	430801	Jose Carioca	KIA; SR/MACR/Missing Crew Recap Form SAY LETTER N
98	343	41-11761		761	D-CO	R	Johnson, D.	X			The Squaw	Hill says LeBrecht pilot; Lloyd claims previously named Sleepy
98	343	41-11776		776	D-CO	O	McGraw	X	171		Bashful	UNKNOWN WHETHER BOMBED; CREW FROM 389th !!!!!!; Hill/Blundell say Jersey Jackass
98	343	41-11840		840	D-CO	P	Darlington	X	173	430801	The Witch	POW Bulgaria; Believed to have bombed
98	343	41-11896		896	D-CO	U	Bleyer	X			Nightmare	Bombed target
98	343	41-11921		921	D-CO	W	Underwood	X			Doc	Hill say Northern Star; Bombed target
98	343	42-40313		313	D-45-CO	X	Murphy	X	172	430801	Boots	POW Romania; down before target?; ROMANIAN SOURCES STATE CRASHED OVER AMMUNITION TRAIN
98	343	42-40364		364	D-53-CO	Y	Gunn	X	165	430801	Prince Charming	KIA; believed to have bombed; Johnsen says turnback
98	343	42-40655		655	D-85-CO	S	Hadcock	X	174	430801	Four Eyes	KIA; down before bombing
98	343	42-41007		007	D-125-CO	P	Gooden	X	170	430801	Margie	POW Romania; 389 PLANE; down before target, did not bomb; NOT SURE THIS WAS 389th; 26 SCU message asks whether this ship arrived direct from UK
98	344	41-11768		768	D-CO	I	Nespor				Kickapoo	Listed in Hill's book; KIA; 93rd crew except pilot; THIS PLANE/PILOT DOES NOT SHOW UP IN ANY 98 BG DOCUMENTATION, SRs, FORMATION DIAGRAMS, ETC.; 41-23768 listed non-op in 98th Semi-Monthly Acft Rpt, 30 Jul 43; crashed on takeoff
98	344	41-11819		819	D-CO	G	Neeley	X	169	430801	Raunchy	POW Romania; Believed to have bombed
98	344	41-11825		825	D-CO	V	Kane	X			Hail Colombia	MOH; bombed target; purportedly previously named Grumpy (41-11825 was DEFINITELY Grumpy) and renamed by Kane for this mission
98	344	41-23795		795	D-5-CO	I	Lebrecht	X			Sneezy	Hill swaps with Johnson; Blundell says The Squaw; Bombed target; PHOTO CONFIRMS 41-23795 WAS SNEEZY; PHOTO CONFIRMS 41-23795 WAS MISS JULIE--BOTH NAMES CONFIRMED IN VERY CLEAR CLOSEUP NOSE ART PHOTOS SHOWING SERIAL DATA BLOCK; NEITHER SHOWS EVIDENCE OF OVERPAINTED PREVIOUS NOSE ART!!! THE MISS JULIE ARTWORK WAS CLEARLY LATER THAN THE SNEEZY ART DUE TO ADDITION OF RADAR ANTENNA.
98	344	41-24026		026	D-15-CO	B	Weisler	X	377	430821	Baby	SR garbled; probably bombed; MACR cover letter states Minnich pilot
98	344	41-24197		197	D-20-CO	A	Hinch	X	168	430801	Tagalong	Crashed after target; believed to have bombed
98	344	41-24198		198	D-20-CO	C	Taylor	X	166	430801	The Vulgar Virgin	Crashed after target; believed to have bombed
98	344	41-24311		311	D-25-CO	L	Hadley	X	167	430801	Hadley's Harem	Ditched off Turkey; bombed target
98	344	42-40208		208	D-35-CO	K	Banks	X			Sad Sack	Bombed target
98	345	41-11766		766	D-CO	V	Morgan	X	171	430801	Chug-A-Lug	Bombed target
98	345	41-11774		774	D-CO	O	Fravega	X			Chief	Crew from 389th (confirmed); Bombed target
98	345	41-11886		886	D-CO	S	Hussey	X	222	430801	Lil Joe	POW Romania; Missing crew list states letter L
98	345	41-24246		246	D-25-CO	N	Sulflow	X	225	430801	Semper Felix (Fidelis???)	KIA, probably after bombing
98	345	42-40102		102	D-30-CO	T	Dore	X	223	430801	Old Baldy	KIA; believed to have bombed; had WING tanks
98	345	42-40312		312	D-45-CO	Y	Thomas	X	227	430801	Aire Lobe (Aire Lobo)	Interned Turkey; bombed target
98	345	42-40316		316	D-45-CO	X	Blevins	X			Snake Eyes (Snakeeyes?)	Bombs hung; jettisoned in Danube
98	345	42-40402		402	D-55-CO	W	Sternfels	X			The Sandman	Bombed target
98	345	42-40663		663	D-85-CO	P	Ward	X	224	430801	Maternity Ward	KIA; believed to have bombed
98	345	42-40973		973	D-120-CO	Z	Salyer	X			Battleaxe	CREW FROM 389th (confirmed); 44th PLANE; BOMBED TARGET; CONFIRMED delivered to 98th on 26 Jul 43 from Deversoir per 98th Semi-Monthly Acft Rpt, 30 Jul 43; Dmitri notes state photo of "Battle Ax" cannibalized (not sure whether canned ship was Battle Ax or another)
98	345	42-40991		991	D-120-CO	Q	Deeds	X	226	430801	Kate Smith	POW Romania; MACR UNREADABLE; NOT 389 PLANE as reported elsewhere; DEFINITELY A SAND KATE SMITH CODE R, SERIAL UNREADABLE, ALTHOUGH THIS PLANE APPARENTLY WENT DOWN BEFORE PLOESTI; replacement ship direct from UK; transferred to 98th from 93rd on 27 Jul 43 per Semi-Monthly Aircraft Status Report; SR clearly states this was a GREEN aircraft; CONFIRMED trans from 93rd 27 Jul 43 per 98th Semi-Monthly Acft Rpt, 30 Jul 43;
98	415	41-11815		815	D-CO	G	Ellis	X			Daisy Mae	CREW FROM 389th (confirmed); Bombed target; name confirmed in Dmitri notes
98	415	41-11817		817	D-CO	H	Opsata	X			Stinger	CREW FROM 389th (confirmed); Bombed target; nickname and last3 confirmed in Dmitri notes
98	415	41-11836		836	D-CO	I	Merrick	X			Lil De-Icer	Bombed target; bombs slightly over; Ldi is 345BS per book
98	415	41-23661		661	D-1-CO	U	Hahn	X			Black Jack	Bombed target
98	415	41-23782		782	D-5-CO	E	Helin	X	177	430801	Boiler Maker II	POW Romania; STRUCK CHIMNEY; MACR DOWN 3-5 MILES PAST TARGET
98	415	41-24023		023	D-15-CO	J	Shingler	X	325	430819	Fertile Myrtle	Bombed target
98	415	41-24195		195	D-20-CO	B	Pettigrew	X			Little Joe	Bombed target; PHOTO OF LITTLE JOE CONFIRMS "41-XX195" BUT SECOND TWO DIGITS ARE SMUDGED; 41-24195 AND 42-40195 BOTH confirmed in 98th per Semi-Monthly Aircraft Report 30 Jul 43
98	415	42-40195		195	D-35-CO	F	Speiser	X			Penelope	Bombed target; 41-24195 AND 42-40195 BOTH confirmed in 98th per Semi-Monthly Aircraft Report 30 Jul 43
98	415	42-40322		322	D-45-CO	K	McCarthy	X	178	430801	The Cornhusker	Shot down in water; KIA; seen to bomb target
98	415	42-40520		520	D-65-CO	M	McGuire	X	176	430801	Yen-Tu (Tu Young Tu????)	Crashed Romania; believed to have bombed
98	415	42-40662		662	D-85-CO	A	Patch	X			Black Magic (Blundell)	Bombed target
98	415	42-63758		758	D-1-CF	D	Nicholson	X			Li'l Jughaid	Bombed target
376	512	41-23724		724	D-1-CO	22/Z	McAtee	X			Doodlebug	Salvoed bombs in field
376	512	41-24294		294	D-25-CO	36/V	Palm	X	154	430801	Brewery Wagon
376	512	41-24297		297	D-25-CO	20/E	Hines	X			War Maid	Interned Turkey; Jettisoned bombs in field; War Maid is DEFINITELY #30; Dmitri notes of 10 Aug 43 mention his photo of #30 War Maid, so the Turkey matter must be resolved
376	512	42-40229		229	D-40-CO	31/(H?)	Miller, R	X			Bomb Boogie	Letter H NOT confirmed in SR; EFC states this ACSN/FN/letter B
376	512	42-40563		563	D-70-CO	28/D	Flavelle	X	150	430801	Wongo Wongo
376	512	42-40658		658	D-85-CO	38/F	Miller, J	X				Salvoed bombs in field; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L; probably no name as Dmitri notes include FN but no name
376	513	41-11591	HP	591	D-CO	46?/G	Zimmerman	X			Queen B	In damage photo number appears to be "46" or "43"; toggled bombs on RR tracks; EFC states FN is 45
376	513	41-11779		779	D-CO	41/N	Whitlock	X			Lil Abner	Photo matches ACSN and code, photo in Lloyd shows 41-11779 claimed Li'l Abner; dropped bombs on RR line; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L
376	513	41-11916		916	D-CO	42/F	Hobbs	X			Tangerine	Photos shows #42 "Flame McGoon (Modified)--HOWEVER, this was a much later B-24D that served with the 376th in Italy.
376	513	41-24032		032	D-15-CO	51/(X?)	Fogel	X			Let's Go	SR says letter "51/K;" dropped bombs on town SW of Ploesti; EFC states letter K; film does not show letter; #51 & nickname confirmed in Dmitri notes
376	513	42-40315		315	D-45-CO	40/P	Deveuve	X			Wolf Pack	Lloyd states Wolf Pack was 42-40213; Salvoed bombs in field; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L; photo shows #40 "Boiler Maker"
376	513	42-40317		317	D-45-CO	54/L	Friberg	X			Barrel House Bessie	Salvoed bombs in field; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L
376	513	42-40660		660	D-85-CO	56/A	Lear	X	324	430819	Little Richard	Salvoed bombs on building by river
376	514	41-11636	HP	636	D-CO	63/P	Bock	X			Wash's Tub	Photos shows #63 as "Bubbles" and "The Duchess" and "Wash's Tub;" no ACSN visible; Salvoed bombs in field
376	514	41-11935		935	D-CO	60/E	Storz	X			Per-Diem The Second	Kinzey states 41-11935/96 was Dream Street Rose; photo is typical of 376 markings; photo confirms #60 as "Per-Diem The Second," no ACSN visible; Clendenin lists 41-11935/60/A; film--no letter visible
376	514	41-24252		252	D-25-CO	70/W	Ryan	X			Georgia Peach (?)	EFC states this ACSN/FN/L
376	514	41-24310		310	D-25-CO	62/D	O'Sullivan	X			Patches	Constant Menace? Photo shows #62, not sure it's same plane; Bombs dropped on RR track; film CONFIRMS 41-24310 was Patches; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L
376	514	42-40206		206	D-35-CO	64/I	Conn	X			8-Ball	Dropped bombs on RR track; EFC states this ACSN/FN/letter J
376	514	42-40657		657	D-85-CO	74/U	Appold	X			G. I. Ginnie	42-40657 is GI Ginnie confirmed by photo; different photo confirms #74 is "G.I. Ginnie;" not confirmed correct ACSN; EFC states this ACSN/FN/L; nickname confirmed as Appold's ship in Dmitri notes
376	514					72/J	Whipple	X			The Gremlin	Toggled bombs into field; EFC lists NO ACSN
376	515	41-11630		630	D-CO	83/M	DuFour	X			Chum V/Kitty Quick	Jettisoned bombs
376	515	41-24031		031		94/S	Wright	X			Angie The Ox	Nickname & number are matched; don't know if right ACSN; Jettisoned bombs; EFC gives this ACSN/FN/L
376	515	42-40203		203	D-35-CO	81/L	Bley	X			Little Isadore	Jettisoned bombs; EFC gives this ACSN/FN/L; photo shows #81 named "Professor B" with Col Robert Warren
376	515	42-40232		232	D-40-CO	85/N	Holt	X			Joey Uptown/Satan's Kids	Jettisoned most bombs; claimed couple dropped on RR tracks
376	515	42-40319		319	D-45-CO	88/T	Hurd	X			(xxx) Rebel	Hill says Dopy Goldberg (not painted on nose); PHOTO CLEARLY SHOWS 42-40319 WITH NAME ENDING IN "REBEL" ON LS NOSE; Jettisoned bombs in field
376	515	42-40664		664	D-85-CO	100/A	Compton	X	298	430816	Teggie Ann	Dropped bombs on RR siding
376	51x?	41-24030		030	D-15-CO	90/K	Gluck	X			Good Time Charlie	SR smudged; squadron probably 515; jettisoned bombs; EFC gives this ACSN/FN/L
389	564	41-23933		933	D-13-CO	Z	Podolak	X			Sweet Adeline	Bombed target
389	564	42-40629		629	D-80-CO	N-	Caldwell	X			The Scorpion	Woods command; SR says N; bombed target; nickname confirmed in Dmitri notes
389	564	42-40746		746	D-95-CO	B	McLaughlin	X			Ole Irish	Bombed target
389	564	42-40753		753	D-95-CO	J	Hughes	X	157	430801	Ole Kickapoo	MOH, crashed after bombing; two survivors
389	564	42-40772		772	D-95-CO	C	Blackis	X			Scheherazade	Bombed target
389	564	42-40776		776	D-95-CO	H	Wright	X			Old Blister Butt	Bombed target
389	564	42-40803		803	D-100-CO	F	Smith, R	X				SR has no letter; bombed target from 700'
389	565	42-40716		716	D-90-CO	R	Rodenberg	X			Yours Truly????	Bombed target
389	565	42-40738		738	D-90-CO	J-	Conroy	X			Fighting Sam	ALSO 41-23738/Q ON TRAVEL ORDER; bombed target
389	565	42-40744		744	D-95-CO	S	James	X	243	430801		Interned Turkey; bombed target
389	565	42-40747		747	D-95-CO	S-	Selvidge	X				Bombed target
389	565	42-40749		749	D-95-CO	P	Braley	X			Sack-Time Sally	Bombed target
389	565	42-40775		775	D-95-CO	Y	Matson	X			Wolf Wagon	Bombed target; nickname confirmed in Dmitri notes
389	565	42-40782		782	D-95-CO	X-	O'Reilly	X	158	430801	Chattanooga Choo Choo	Crashed near Pitesti after bombing; SR says 782/N-; MACR cover letter states 42-61434
389	565	42-40787		787	D-95-CO	V-	McCormick	X			Vagabond King	SR says V; bombed target
389	565	42-40795		795	D-100-CO	X	Tolleson	X			The Golden Sandstorm	Bombed target
389	566	42-40115		115	D-30-CO	A-	Neef	X	159		Boomerang	ON LOAN FROM 98 or 376???; MACR SAYS EXPLODED; THIS WAS DEFINITELY A SAND COLORED SHIP (CRASH PHOTOS)
389	566	42-40619		619	D-80-CO	N-	Ward	X				Brooks was Command Pilot; bombed target; at some point code changed to N+, but may have been after return to UK
389	566	42-40623		623	D-80-CO	I-	Westerbeke	X				Bombed target
389	566	42-40706		706	D-90-CO	F-	Whitener	X			Tondelao	Bombed target
389	566	42-40722		722	D-90-CO	B-	Dieterle	X			The Little Gramper	Bombed target; nose art added in desert
389	566	42-40735		735	D-90-CO	C-	Horton	X	156	430801	Sand-Witch	Crash landed after target; one survivor; MACR cover letter states 42-61503
389	566	42-40743		743	D-95-CO	O-	Sisson	X				Bombed target
389	566	42-40773		773	D-95-CO	I	Fowble	X				Bombed target; Hill says name was "I for Item" (very unlikely; this originates from a British book that I can’t lay my hands on at this moment)
389	567	42-40544		544	D-70-CO	R-	Mooney	X			Hitler's Hearse	Interned Turkey; bombed target--MACR????
389	567	42-40733		733	D-90-CO	V-	Gerrick	X				Bombed target
389	567	42-40751		751	D-95-CO	Y-	Denton	X			Touch of Texas	Bombed target; Dmitri 16 Aug 43 notes list Denton's crew on "Round Trip” but no other info
389	567	42-40793		793	D-100-CO	H-	Nading	X			Blonds Away	Bombed target
389	567	42-40807		807	D-100-CO	U-	Spurrier	X			The Oklahoman	Bombed target


TURNBACKS - NOT PLOESTI VETERANS
Gp	Sq	Serial		Last3	Block	Code	Pilot	SR	MACR	Date	Nickname	Disposition
93	5 Turnbacks
93	329	41-24259		259	D-25-CO	30	Freese	X			Jack Frost?	TURNBACK---SR states turned back immediately after takeoff, bombs jettisoned, gas leak
93		41-25411		411		P	Collins	X			Piccadilly Filly	TURNBACK; 93 docs/SR/ABC Report all state 111/P; 41-24111 came down with 93; jettisoned bombs
93	328	41-23729		729	D-1-CO	D	Black	X			Shoot Luke	TURNBACK
93	329	41-23809		809	D-5-CO	N	Harvey	X			Hellsadroppin II	TURNBACK; Jettisoned bombs
93	330	42-40969		969	D-120-CO	A bar over	Emmons	X			Big Noise	TURNBACK
98	7 Turnbacks
98	344	41-24040		040	D-15-CO	F	Edwards	X			Big Operator	TURNBACK
98	343	42-40082		082	D-30-CO	T	Bennett	X			Scarlett O'Hara????	TURNBACK
98	344	41-23656		656	D-1-CO	H	Gaston	X			Rowdy II (Rowdy Ann ?????)	TURNBACK
98	344	41-23733		733	D-1-CO	J	Colchagoff	X			Skipper (Skippy????)	TURNBACK
98	343	41-11767		767		Q	Looker	X			Shanghai Lil (II ?????)	TURNBACK; 42-40767/G CAME DOWN WITH 389TH; SL is 345BS per book
98	344	41-11803		803	D-CO	E	Arens	X			Eager Beavers	TURNBACK; formerly Rosie Wrecked 'Em per Dmitri notes
98	?	?										Was this Ole Kickapoo???
376	2 Turnbacks
376	512	41-24258		258	D-25-CO	23/A	Iovine	X			Desert Lilly	TURNBACK; Followed Flavelle down to sea level; could not catch back up
376	364?	?										Per Johnson
Total 14 Turnbacks

NO turnbacks from 44th or 389th
Brereton 2 Aug reported 11 turnbacks
Brereton 17 Aug reported 14 turnbacks

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

NO B-24s carried ball turrets to Ploesti. This is confirmed. Official documents prove those aircraft that arrived with ball turrets installed (mostly or entirely 389th aircraft) had them removed prior to the mission.
In the charts, a letter designation that includes "X top bar" (X being the individual aircraft letter), it indicates an identification letter with a bar OVER THE TOP of the letter
Information in NON-green cells may be correct; I just haven't confirmed it yet to the standards listed above.
389th sent 4 complete crews to 98th/415th; one complete crew to 98th/345th; seven individual aircrew members: six to 98th/415th and one to 44th; Maj Burton flew with 376th during entire time in Africa
Missing Crew Recap Forms are elementary regarding aircraft letters and include NO indications of bars, dashes, bars over, etc.
Ivan Dmitri notes for 12 Aug 43 mention photo (not included) of ship named "Bitsy Bomber" with 22 missions including Ploesti; BG not mentioned

CONFIRMED 376th ACSNs (from TW Mission Damage Report) -- NO Field Numbers or Letters Given

41-24310
42-11636
42-40317
42-40657
42-40660

In the 98th, 41-24195 and 42-40195 are BOTH CONFIRMED, but which had which letter is not addressed.

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