42-40774 Heaven Can Wait
B-24 Liberator
Damaged in a Mid-Air-Collision on 25 June 1943 with B-24 42-40687 while on a training mission
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42-40687
B-24 Liberator
Damaged beyond repair in a Mid-Air-Collision on 25 June 1943 with B-24 42-40774 while on a training mission
Service
Aircraft
Units
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389th Bomb Group
Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
People
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Robert Bird
Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ... -
Edward Fowble
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Foble was piloting B-24 42-40687 on a training flight on 25 June 1943 when he was involved in a mid-air-collision with B-24 42-40774 "Heaven Can Wait" piloted by 1st Lt Harold James. Fowble managed to land the aircraft at Hethel. ... -
Edward LeJeune
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ... -
Forest Phifer
Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. Lt. Phifer was awarded the "Distinguished Flying Cross" for his valor in " Operation Tidal Wave " one of the most daring raids of WW2. Coming in at... -
William Schermerhorn
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ... -
Herbert Solomon
Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ... -
Benny Stachow
Military | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ... -
George Wells
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 389th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, in B-24 Liberator 42-40773. ...
Places
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Hethel
Military site : airfield
Construction of Hethel airfield began in 1941, and was finished in late 1942. The number of hardstandings was increased from the planned 36 to 50 in 1942, in order to accommodate a full heavy bomb group. The 320th Bomb Group occupied the base for ten...
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Crashed | Seething |
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 29 October 2018 10:32:22 | Emily | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, nicknames, description, events, aircraft associations, unit associations, person associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Information provided by Ray Stout, who has a copy of the accident report for this aircraft Bomber Pilot by Phil Ardery |
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