42-40765 - Valient Virgin
Tidal Wave Crew : -
Russell D. Demont - Pilot - Robert C. Murray - Co-Pilot George A. Stewart - Navigator
George G. Everhart - Bombardier
Fredrick H. Homnick - Radio Operator Alfred B. Bergkemp - Top Turret Gunner
Bernard A. Coburn - Waist Gunner
Julius Erdely - Waist Gunner William J. Nelson - Nose Gunner Raymond J. Russell - Tail Gunner
Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill
B-24-D-95-CO - 42-40765 - Delivered : Tucson, AZ May 1943 - Allocated : 8th Air Force
Assigned : 8th Air Force - 93rd Bomb Group - 329th Bomb Squadron.
The B-24D, 42-40765, named, Valient Virgin, with the name, "Valient", misspelled, was originally allocated and assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 329th Bomb Squadron, based at Hardwick in the U.K. May, 1943. It was temporarily detached (TDY) to the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 343rd Bomb Squadron, based at Berca Field at Benghazi, Libya, 1942, to assist with Operation Tidal Wave, the large bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.
Valient Virgin, flew on Operation Tidal Wave, over Ploesti, Romania. The Pilot, Lt. Russell D. Demont and Copilot Lt. Robert C. Murray, and their crew, flew, Valient Virgin, with the 98th Bomb Group's element, in "B" formation, Position 2-2, returning safely to Benghazi, Libya. August 1, 1943.
One of, Valient Virgin's, vertical stabilizer fins shows up, with it's olive drab paint, and it's abbreviated serial number, 240765, visibly mounted on the RH side of the 98th Bomb Group's B-24D, Black Jack, 41-23661's, empennage, several days after the Ploesti mission, when the color photo was taken. Aug 5-7, 1943.
Valient Virgin's Crew on Operation Tidal Wave :
Russell D. Demont - Pilot
Robert C. Murray - Co-Pilot
George A. Stewart - Navigator
George G. Everhart - Bombardier
Fredrick H. Homnick - Radio Operator
Alfred B. Bergkamp - Top Turret Gunner
Bernard A. Coburn - Waist Gunner
Julius Erdely - Waist Gunner
William J. Nelson - Nose Gunner
Raymond J. Russell - Tail Gunner
After the Ploesti mission, Valient Virgin, returned to Hardwick, England, with the rest of the 8th Air Force and the 93rd Bomb Group.
Later, in Nov 1943, Valient Virgin, flown by Lt. Richard Sedivec, had a midair collision on a mission over Bremen, Germany, with the B-24D, Joisey Bounce, crashed, and was lost. FTR. A total of 7 members of Lt. Sedivec's crew were killed in action (KIA) in the crash or by failing to bail out after the disastrous air collision, including, Lt. Sedivec and Edwin Gillespie. The B-24D, Joisey Bounce, had been renamed, Utah Man, for the Ploesti mission. It was piloted and flown by Walter Stewart and his crew, on the Ploesti mission. 1-Aug-43.
After having already been renamed, Joisey Bounce, again, by it's crew back in Britain, Joisey Bounce, took a devastating direct hit by an enemy flak burst, on a mission over Germany. The flak explosion caused one of, Joisey Bounce's, wings to separate from the aircraft, causing it to spin wildly out of control, colliding with, Valient Virgin, flying below it, and crashing into, Valient Virgin's, fuselage and bomb bays, causing the, Virgin's, tail section to break off and separate from the rest of the airplane. Joisey Bounce, and her crew were also lost in the collision/crash near Husum, Germany. 13-Nov-43. Valient Virgin's crew : 3 POW. 7 KIA.
The bodies of the crews of both planes were interred together at Jefferson Barracks Cemetery, Missouri. MACR 2184.
Contributor - Brian J. Piaquadio
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17041945 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator / Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-739833
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot
Places
Missions
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Valient Virgin
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 329th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew the Ploesti mission in the B formation. Returned safely to Libya. RTB 1 Aug 43. |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Husum, Germany | 13 November 1943 | Lost on the 13-Nov-43 mission to Bremen, Germany, after a collision with another B-24D, 41-24226, Utah Man - Joisey Bounce, which smashed its bomb bays and caused the tail section to break off. both fell out of control and crashed near Husum, Germany. 3 POW 7 KIA. MACR 2184. |
Other Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | Assigned to the 329th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF. TDY 9th Air Force. May 1943. | |
Manufactured |
Consolidated Aircraft San Diego, CA | Built at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, CA | |
Delivered |
Tucson AAF, AZ | Tucson, AZ. |
Revisions
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
The Great Ground-Air battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan - Carroll Stewart
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
As per November 1945 letter written by Joisey Bounce survivor and POW, Sgt.Robert Cox ,to one of the crew's mother describing the last minutes of the aircraft..
Also corrected the spelling of the name of the Vali"e"nt Virgin.
Added US history per a/c record card. Conformed basic information to AAM format.
B-24 - Best Web ---- The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 - James Dugan & Carroll Stewart
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
http://www.b24bestweb.com / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2184
MACR 2184 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database