42-40128 - War Baby - Ball Of Fire The III
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Object Number - UPL 14857 - The B-24D Liberator, 42-40128, Ball of Fire III - War Baby. Veteran of the Ploesti mission. 1st Aug 43. Lost on her final mission, damaged...
The B-24D, 42-40128, War Baby - Ball Of Fire the III, was a veteran of the Ploesti mission, returning to Libya. 1 Aug 43. Later, in November, the airplane was lost damaged by attacking ME-109s after the Hjeller-Oslo, Norway, mission. 18 Nov 43. Aircraft landed in Sweden, and it's crew was interned. Interned. 10-INT-SWE. 18 Nov 43. MACR 2187 Pilot - Lt. Frank Kilcheski -
Co-Pilot - Lt. Robert A. Hill
Navigator - Lt. Walter H. Sills
Bombardier - Lt. Abe H. Schonier
Engineer - Sgt. Glenn A. Corn
Radioman - Sgt. Edward J. Donnelly
Gunner - Sgt. Dan Cairns
Gunner - Sgt. James Nichols
Gunner - Sgt. Bertil Carlson
Gunner - Sgt. Bob Bryce
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-673689
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-801041
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
![Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph S Tate Jr, Sergeant Edward J Rubin and Technical Sergeant Gottrell H Wright of the 93rd Bomb Group with their B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40128) nicknamed "Ball of Fire the III".
Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for publication 4 Nov 1943' [stamp]. '283892' [Censor no].
Printed caption on reverse: 'COMBAT PERSONNEL OF THE "TRAVELLING CIRCUS"
L to R: Lt. Col. Joseph S. Tate, Jr of St. Augustine Fla. Squadron Commander, has completed 32 missions, incl. Rome and Ploest](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379221.jpg.webp?itok=4G-yHWIa)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 409th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-024034
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34139545
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Missions
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Veteran of the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, returning to Libya. |
|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Norway | 18 November 1943 | Lost on 18 Nov 43, after receiving damage from attacking Me 109s after the Hjeller-Oslo, Norway mission. MACR 2187. A/C landed in Sweden and crew were interned. |
Revisions
My father : Edward J. Donnelly was aboard War Baby on her final mission.
MACR 2187 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database