The B-24 Liberator bomber, 42-40738, named, The Oklahoman, was in the 566th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force, from Britain. The pilot, Lt. John C. "Jack" Martin, who named, The Oklahoman, was, appropriately, from Tosamingo, Oklahoma, .



The Oklahoman, and Pilot Lt. John "Jack" Martin, flew on the mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, copiloted by Lt. Thomas C. Conroy. After the mission, they diverted to Malta due to flak damage and fuel leakage. SSgt. Lowell Vick, was the Engineer and Top Turret Gunner.



The Oklahoma's Tidal Wave Crew :



Lt. John C. Martin - Pilot -

Lt. Eldon N. Colby - Co-Pilot with big smile !

Lt. Robert C. Schroeder - Bombardier -

Maj. Tom Conroy - CO - 566th Squadron - Lt. Walter J. Stabrowski - Navigator -

Tech/Sgt. C. Lowell Vick - Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner -

S/Sgt. Wiley C. Windham - Right Waist Gunner -

S/Sgt. William L. Wilhem - Left Waist Gunner -

S/Sgt. Gus Triantaffillos - Tail Turret Gunner - replaced the original Tail Turret Gunner,

Albert Bailey, who was shot down over Ploesti with Lt. Neef's crew.

SSgt. Bernard H. Shelly - Ball Turret Gunner

S/Sgt. Flatter - Radio Operator -

.



The Oklahoman was shot down, 5 Dec 43, over St. Nazaire, France, by a direct burst of flak, which exploded the airplane. Flying,The Oklahoman, on that day, was Lt. Harley Mason and his crew, who normally flew in the B-24D, Fightin' Sam, 42-40506. Lt. Mason was the sole survivor of the explosion and was taken captive (POW). Lt. Eldon N. Colby, the copilot, was flying next to The Oklahoman, on his first mission as a command pilot, in, Touch Of Texas, 42-40751. Pieces of the exploding B-24D, The Oklahoman, hit his and several other aircraft. 5 Dec 43.



Lt. Eldon Colby was shot down in the B-24D, 42-7766, on Dec 30, 1943, survived and became a Prisoner of War (POW). 30 Dec 43. MACR 1974