42-51561 Lucky 1

media-48668.jpeg UPL 48668 B-24 42-51561 'Lucky 1' 752BS, 458BG on its nose in a blegium field having been damaged by flak over Dortmund.

http://www.b24bestweb.com/lucky1-2.htm

Object Number - UPL 48668 - B-24 42-51561 'Lucky 1' 752BS, 458BG on its nose in a blegium field having been damaged by flak over Dortmund.

Assigned to 752BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew only five combat missions from 13 Jan thru 28-Jan-45. Hit by flak on Dortmund mission, over the target flak burst directly beneath the nose of their B-24 damaging electrical, hydraulic, and auto pilot systems and shattering Plexiglas in the nose. 1Lt. Louis D. Vehslage (Pilot), wounded in the neck by shrapnel, elected to crash-land the damaged aircraft near the Belgian/French border 28-Jan-45, following which it was salvaged.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'

458th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Lyall Barnhart

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 25th Bomb Group 458th Bomb Group 653rd Bomb Squadron 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-771615
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Ralph Chavkin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32802729
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Matthew Bernard Dorfman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-773314
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Vernon Everett Gilbertson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36762332
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Carl George Kressin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 752nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 06919132
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

Horsham St Faith, UK 13 January 1945 Assigned to 752BS, 458BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Belgium / France border 28 January 1945 Hit by flak on Dortmund mission, 1Lt. Louis D. Vehslage (Pilot) had to crash-land the damaged aircraft near the Belgian/French border

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com/lucky1-1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/lucky13-v2-1.htm
https://www.458bg.com/crewbj129vehslage.htm

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.b24bestweb.com/lucky1-1.htm
http://www.b24bestweb.com/lucky13-v2-1.htm
https://www.458bg.com/crewbj129vehslage.htm

42-51561: Gallery (5 items)

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