42-40747 - Heavy Date

media-15330.jpeg UPL 15330 B-24D, 42-40747, Heavy Date, in the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on the Ploesti oil refinery bombing mission piloted by Lt. William M Selvidge, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 1943.

Details added. - Kickapoo

Object Number - UPL 15330 - B-24D, 42-40747, Heavy Date, in the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on the Ploesti oil refinery bombing mission piloted by Lt. William M Selvidge,...

The B-24D, 42-40747, was named, 747, and later, Heavy Date. It was in the 567th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bombardment Group, in the 8th Air Force, in the U.K. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force in North Africa to fly on the Ploesti oil refinery mission, piloted by Lt. William M. Selvidge, who flew it on the mission and returned safely to Libya. RTB. 1 Aug 43.

On Jan 7, 1944, Heavy Date, was assigned to bomb the Ludwigshafen Oil Refinery in Germany, piloted by Lt. Carl A. Mattson. The plane was attacked, shot up, and damaged by German fighters, It fell out of control and out of position in it's formation. It's cockpit caught on fire, as it fell into a spin and crashed. Some of the crew were able to bail out the plane before it exploded and crashed, one kilometer NE of Vrigny, France, 40km NE of Orléans, France. 7 Jan 44. 4 EVD. 5 KIA. 1 POW. MACR 1851.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12183535
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-806783
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-678680
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Heavy Date
  • Unit: 464th Bomb Group 777th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Survived Ploesti

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Flew on the Ploesti oil refinery mission piloted by Lt. William M. Selvidge, returning safely to Libya. 1 Aug 43.

Crashed

7 January 1944 1km NE of Vrigny (Loiret Department), France

Assigned

Benghazi, Libya 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Spelling, wording changes. - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Added details. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Details added. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40747 - Heavy Date

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 1851

Date
ContributorED-BB
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Connection with Hethel

Date
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 1851 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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