42-40764 Helen B Happy
Object Number - UPL 14457 - B-24 Liberator #4240764 'Helen B Happy' survivor of the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid.
Participated in 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning to Libya.
Badly damaged on 1st Oct mission to Wiener Neustadt resulting in a forced landing at Palermo, Italy, crew repaired the A/C.
Took off from Oudna, Libya 11th Oct and suffered loss complete loss of power at 600 ft, pilot attempted wheels up landing, clipped trees before ploughing through a field badly crushing the fuselage. Only 1 member of the 10 man crew didn't survive, Nav 2nd Lt Lester Saenger having baled out too low after the loss of power. A/C abandoned at Oudna, Libya.
The plane was named for John Cox's wife. Cox was a former CA State Trooper and 'a heck of a good Armour Gunner', Norman Ross is quoted in the Lundy book.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot / Squadron Commander
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Participated in 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning to Libya. |
|
Other Forced Landing |
Palermo, Italy | 1 October 1943 | Badly damaged on 1st Oct mission to Wiener Neustadt resulting in a forced landing at Palermo, Italy |
|
Crashed |
11 October 1943 | Took off from Oudna, Libya 11th Oct and suffered loss complete loss of power at 600 ft, pilot attempted wheels up landing, clipped trees before ploughing through a field badly crushing the fuselage. Only 1 member of the 10 man crew didn't survive, Nav 2nd Lt Lester Saenger having baled out too low after the loss of power. | |
|
Other TDY 9th AF |
Benghazi, Libya | Temporarily assigned to 9th AF. |
