42-95379 - Extra Joker

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95379) nicknamed "Extra Joker" of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Image taken by Leo S Stoutsenberger, Photographic Officer, 451st Bomb Group. media-418180.jpg FRE 8705 A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95379) nicknamed "Extra Joker" of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Image taken by Leo S Stoutsenberger, Photographic Officer, 451st Bomb Group. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 8705 - A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95379) nicknamed "Extra Joker" of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in flight. Image taken by Leo S...

The B-24-H-30-FO, named, Extra Joker, SN, 42 95379, was in the 15th Air Force, the  451st Bomb Group, and the 725th Bomb Squadron. RCL P 35.  Extra Joker, was being flown by Lt. Kenneth A Whiting and the crew of, the B-24, Thunder Mug, when it was shot down after being hit by cannon fire from an attacking FW-190 enemy fighter plane  over Turnitz, Austria and was destroyed and lost in the resulting mid air explosion after the enemy aircraft scored numerous hits on the bomber. Aircraft shot down and lost. Failed To Return, AUT.  23 Aug 44.  MACR 7956 Pg1 / Pg2.  MACR 7956 Pg1 / Pg2      Extra Joker's entire replacement crew from, Thunder Mug, were killed and lost. 10-KIA.  23 Aug 44. Replacement crew KIA on, Extra Joker, from, Thunder Mug.                                                                                                                                                                          -1st Lt Kenneth A Whiting - pilot (KIA) Salt Lake City, Utah

1st Lt Alvin W Moore - copilot (KIA) McMinnville, Oregon

  2nd Lt Francis J Bednarek - navigator (KIA) Ashley, Pennsylvania

2nd Lt Edward S Waneski - bombardier (KIA) Brooklyn, New York

  Sgt Peter Breda - top turret gunner (KIA) Lima, Ohio

Sgt Harry V Bates - ball turret gunner (KIA) Reinholds, Pennsylvania

  Sgt Joseph Garbacz - right waist gunner (KIA) Detroit, Michigan

S/Sgt Milton R Nitsch - left waist gunner (KIA) Sheboygan, Wisconsin

  Sgt Elmer J Anderson - nose turret gunner (KIA) Los Angeles, California

Sgt Oscar W Bateman - tail turret gunner (KIA) Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Connections

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Units served with

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-450443) of the 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force releases bombs during a mission.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Fifteenth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

71025 Castelluccio dei Sauri FG, Italy 30 May 1944 Assigned to the 725th Bomb Squadron, 451st Bomb Group, 15th Air Force.

Other

Shot Down

Türnitz, Austria 23 August 1944 A/C was attacked and strafed by FW-190s over Turnitz, Austria on 23 August 1944. The fire that started on the left wing behind the #1 engine led to an explosion which left the A/C uncontrollable with all crew members KIA [killed in action]. MACR 7956.

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42-95379: Gallery (4 items)