42-40746 - Ole Irish
Details added. - Kickapoo
The B-24D Liberator, 42-40746, named, Ole Irish, was piloted by Lt. Frank McGlaughlin and Copilot Lt. Lee Slessor, from the 564th Bomb Squadron, the 389th Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, based at Hethel, Britain. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 98th Bomb Group in the 9th Air Force at Benghazi, Libya, and flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Lt. McGlaughlin had one engine hit and destroyed by flak over their target, the Campina Refinery complex north of Ploesti. The B-24D, 42-40746, Old Blister Butt's, pilot, Robert Wright, and crew, flying nearby, saw their friends in, Old Irish, limping away from the Campina area on three engines, and slowed down to escort them as air cover as far as the Mediterranean coast.
Heading home, Pilot McLaughlin gave, Old Irish's, crew the opportunity to give their opinions on whether they should try to return to base or head for neutral Turkey. The crew opted to try for home and one of Benghazi's three air bases. They unbolted all of the guns, ammunition, and everything they could disassemble and remove from the plane to lighten their load and threw it all overboard. Pilot McGlaughlin, Copilot Slessor, flew, Ole Irish, which carried them and their crew the entire distance, back across the Mediterranean Sea, to Lete Air Base on their three good engines. When they got to the coast of Libya, they landed at Lete, the first air base they came to at Benghazi. While taxiing in from the runway, one of their three good engines, quit, completely out of aviation gasoline. (RTB) 1 Aug 43.
Connections
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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: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17040654
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35027471 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: B-24D Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12035639
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32041169 / O-734123
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Stinger
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Ole Irish
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Old Blister Butt - Widow
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 406th Bomb Squadron 564th Bomb Squadron 566th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning to Libya on three engines, one of which quit upon taxiing back in from the runway. |
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. |
Revisions
http://www.b24bestweb.com › oleirish1 USAAF AIRCRAFT MARKINGS AND CAMOUFLAGE 1941 - 1947 - The History of USAAF Aircraft markings, Insignia, Camouflage, and Colors. - Robt. D. Archer & Victor E. Archer. p. 103
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40746 - Ole Irish ------ Best Web - B-24 - Old Blister Butt