Lindley P Hussey

Military
media-49306.jpeg UPL 49306 B-24D - 'Lil Joe' - Lt. Lindley Hussey and Crewmen Before Ploesti. 'LIL Joe' Crashed - Lost. Aug 1, 1943. - MACR 222

Best Web - B-24 - 'Lil Joe'

Object Number - UPL 49306 - B-24D - 'Lil Joe' - Lt. Lindley Hussey and Crewmen Before Ploesti. 'LIL Joe' Crashed - Lost. Aug 1, 1943. - MACR 222

Lt. Lindley Hussey was the pilot of the B-24D liberator bomber, #41-11886, named, 'Lil Joe', lost on the Aug 1, 1943 Ploesti oil refinery raid. As Lt. Hussey, flying in Flight 3 behind the fist two flights ahead of him, approached his target, he took flak hits in one of his large auxiliary fuel tanks installed in his bomb bay, which began leaking gasoline, prior to bombing his target. Hussey pressed on, in spite of the leak, and bombed his target with his stricken bomber bursting into flames from the leaking fuel. Lt. Hussey pulled 'Lil Joe' into climb to enable his crewmen to bail out. Six crew bailed. Two survived their descent, but 'Lil Joe', now on fire, exploded and crashed in a field. Hussey and his radioman were pulled from wreck badly burned, but lived to become POW's. - 4 POW - 5 KIA. MACR 222.

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: R-845712
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Lil Joe
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Little Joe
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner Of War POW

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Pilot of B-24 #4111886 'Lil Joe' lost on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, A/C had large fuel leak in bomb bay prior to target, pressed on and bombed target with A/C bursting into flames from leaked fuel, pilot pulled aircraft into climb to enable bail out, 6 crew bailed, 2 survived descent, Lil Joe exploded and crashed in a field, Hussey and radioman pulled from wreck badly burnt and became POW's. 4 POW, 5 KIA. MACR 222.

Other

Assigned

345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF.

Revisions

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ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 'Lil Joe'

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Lindley P Hussey: Gallery (1 items)