Joseph Lee Craighead
Military
media-13845.jpeg
UPL 13845
The B-24D, 41-23717, "Exterminator", of the 330th Bomb Squadron, the 93rd Bomb Group, and the 8th Air Force.
This plane and crew were flying as element lead when it collided with another plane in its element ( 121-J ) after entering a cloud bank over Bulgaria. Both planes crashed in flames in the mountains. MACR 334
"Exterminator" Crew :
Capt. Hugh R. Roper - Pilot (KIA) - Oak City, UT,
Capt. John B. White, Jr - Navigator (KIA - Hillsboro, IL
1st Lt. Ted Brannon - Bombardier (KIA) - Coatesville, PA,
T/Sgt. Henry C. Lloyd, Jr.- Radio Operator (KIA) - Flint, MI
T/Sgt. Albert L. Lee - Tail Gunner
T/Sgt. Joseph L. Craighead - Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Earl P Lemoine - Gunner (KIA) - Moreauville, LA
S/Sgt. William A. Defreese - Waist Gunner (KIA) - Anniston, AL
Walter Stewart was not on "Exterminator" when it crashed. He is my father, Col Robert W. Stewart's cousin. Walter flew the B-24D, "Utah Man", on the Ploesti mission. 1 Aug 1943. Stewart survived the mission and the war.
This plane and crew were flying as element lead when it collided with another plane in its element ( 121-J ) after entering a cloud bank over Bulgaria. Both planes crashed in flames in the mountains. MACR 334
"Exterminator" Crew :
Capt. Hugh R. Roper - Pilot (KIA) - Oak City, UT,
Capt. John B. White, Jr - Navigator (KIA - Hillsboro, IL
1st Lt. Ted Brannon - Bombardier (KIA) - Coatesville, PA,
T/Sgt. Henry C. Lloyd, Jr.- Radio Operator (KIA) - Flint, MI
T/Sgt. Albert L. Lee - Tail Gunner
T/Sgt. Joseph L. Craighead - Waist Gunner
S/Sgt. Earl P Lemoine - Gunner (KIA) - Moreauville, LA
S/Sgt. William A. Defreese - Waist Gunner (KIA) - Anniston, AL
Walter Stewart was not on "Exterminator" when it crashed. He is my father, Col Robert W. Stewart's cousin. Walter flew the B-24D, "Utah Man", on the Ploesti mission. 1 Aug 1943. Stewart survived the mission and the war.
Black Sunday - Michael Hill
Tech Sgt. Joseph Craighead was assigned as a B-24 gunner to the 330th Bomb Squadron, in the 93rd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force, USAAF.
Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15066095 / O-789244
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-437644
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Hot Stuff
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 330th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Bedford, VA | 24 December 1917 | Son of Otty Thomas Craighead. |
Enlisted |
Montgomery, AL | 25 August 1941 | Montgomery, Alabama |
Other Discharged USAAF |
27 June 1945 | Honorable discharge. | |
Other Discharged USAAF |
27 June 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
Died |
Bedford, VA | 11 October 1996 | |
Based |
Hardwick | Assigned to 330BS, 93BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia