Lindley P Hussey
MilitaryBest Web - B-24 - 'Lil Joe'
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- 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
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Airfield
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. |