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Military
Lieutenant Harold Korger of the 98th Bomb Group. Flew as bombardier aboard B-24 Liberator "Hail Columbia" during the Ploesti Raid 1943.
Norman Whalen - Harold Korger
Col. Harold Francis Korger - Nose Gunner - Bombardier - of the B-24D "Big Operator" and "Hail Columbia" for Operation Tidal Wave 1943 Harry Korger survived Ploesti and had a long career in the U.S. Air Force.
'Hail Columbia''s Ploesti Mission Officers' Flight Crew : From left - Copilot Lt. John S. Young - Bombardier Lt. Harold Korger - Navigator Lt. Norman Whalen, August, 1943.
Lt. Harold Korger and Col. John R. Kane 1943
B-24D 'Hail Columbia' After Crash Landing at Nicosia, Cyprus - Aug 1, 1943 - Lt Gilbert Hadley, one of the shot up stragglers from the 344th Bomb Squadron joined up with and followed his group leader's ship, John Kane's 'Hail Columbia' south out of Ploesti through Turkey, heading for the British air base at Nicosia, Cyprus. Hadley and his copilot, Lt. James Lindsey , were caught in their bomber's crushed cockpit section after attempting a water ditching off the Turkish coast and were drowned - KIA. August 1, 1943. - From left : Lt. Harry Korger Bombardier - Lt. Norman Whalen Navigator/nose gunner - kneeling, second from right, 1st Lt. Raymond Hubbard Radio operator/ gunner, and crew, the next morning after the Ploesti mission, Monday August 2nd, 1943.
# 42-40753 ~ B-24D 'OLE KICKAPOO' - Command Pilot 2nd Lt. Lloyd Hughes, Copilot 2ndLt. Ronald Helder, and Crew 1943. Aircraft was lost at Campina, Ploesti with both pilots and all crewmen, except two, KIA. Two crewmen survived the crash, WIA on "Operation Tidal Wave" 1 Aug 1943 - Pilot Lt. Lloyd "Pete" Hughes was awarded the Medal Of Honor for his determination to press on and bomb his target without regard to his life and safety. His copilot, Lt. Ronald Helder was awarded The Distinguished Service Cross. - All crewmen on 'Ole Kickapoo' were awarded The Distinguished Service Cross and The Distinguished Flying Cross for their bravery, skill, and sacrifice in participation with Operation Tidal Wave. Pilot: 2Lt Lloyd H. Hughes, Jr. KIA : Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously Co-Pilot: 2Lt Ronald L. Helder. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Navigator: 2Lt Sidney A. Pear. KIA : Died of wounds August 6, 1943, surgery hospital in Campina, Rumania : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Bombardier: 2Lt John A. McLoughlin. KIA : Escaped burning wreckage - Died of wounds on August 3, 1943, surgery hospital in Campina, Rumania : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: T/Sgt Joseph E. Mix. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Radio Operator: T/Sgt Louis N. Kase. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Malcolm C. Dalton. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Edmond H. Smith. WIA POW : Distinguished Service Cross Tail Gunner: S/Sgt Thomas A. Hoff. WIA POW : Distinguished Service Cross Tunnel Gunner: Sgt Avis K. Wilson. KIA : Distinguished Service Cross posthumously Full names: Pilot: 2Lt Lloyd Herbert Hughes, Jr. Co-Pilot: 2Lt Ronald Lee Helder Navigator: 2Lt Sidney Allen Pear Bombardier: 2Lt John A. McLoughlin Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: T/Sgt Joseph Elzie Mix Radio Operator: T/Sgt Louis Norman Kase/Kassowitz Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Malcolm Clay Dalton Waist Gunner: S/Sgt Edmond Howard Smith Tail Gunner: S/Sgt Thomas Albert Hoff Tunnel Gunner: Sgt Avis Kenneth Wilson
B-24D - CoPilot Lt. John S. Young - With Lt. Harold Korger, bombardier, and Lt. Norman Whalen, navigator and nose gunner, on 'Hail Columbia' after the Ploesti raid. August 1, 1943.
Operation Tidal Wave - Last Briefing. - 1943
Lt. Harold Korger was a bombardier in the 344th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. He flew on the famous mission, Operation Tidal Wave, Aug 1, 1943, to knock out the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.
Harold F. Korger was born October 7, 1918 to German American parents in Eau Claire Wisconsin. Growing up. He graduated from High School and attended the University of Wisconsin and earned a Bachelors Degree in Music in 1940. He would put that degree to use as the music director of the Eagle River Schools until the war would cut his teaching career short. In December 1941, Harry made a decision that would change his life forever. He enlisted in the US Army Air Force. He graduated from Bombardier School at Midland Field in 1942 and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. He was stationed at various locations in the USA before transferring overseas in February 1943 and was assigned to the 98th Bomb Group, the 344th Bomb Squadron, then, stationed in the Middle East. The 98th Bomb Group were known as the 'Pyramiders'. The 98th Bomb group left the United States on July 15, 1942 and arrived in Palestine in late July. They flew their first mission to Mersa Metruh on August 1, 1942. The 98th was initially assigned to the USMEAF (United States Middle East Air Force). However, the USMEAF was dissolved on November 12, 1942. At that time, the 98th came under the 9th Air Force. The 98th was under the command of the 12th Air Force in September and October 1943. Then, it was under the 15th Air Force beginning on 1 Nov, 1943. Harry started flying missions with the 98th shortly after he arrived in North Africa, bombing mostly targets in Italy. He had 23 missions and almost 300 hours of flying time under his belt when the mission that would define his military career was announced. It was the mission to attack the oil refineries at Ploesti Romania.
Harry was hand picked by Col. John “Killer” Kane to be his Bombardier for the mission. Col. Kane earned the Medal of Honor as the Pilot of “Hail Columbia” and as group commander during the raid.
On the Morning of August 1, 1943 “Hail Columbia” took off from their base in Libya. In letters Harry wrote home he related that he flew with Colonel John R. Kane, former West Point all-American football player, on the Ploesti mission. "I saw old friends crash to a flaming death before my eyes," he wrote. "The Jerries were throwing up everything at us. Our plane was shot to shreds but, by sheer flying skill, Colonel Kane got us out." "My bombs hit dead center on my target and we wiped the place out. Then, the fighters jumped us and more of our friends went down, but they took at least four or five Jerries down with them for every one of us." Once the bombs were dropped after escaping the fighters leaving Ploesti, and after a long harrowing flight, Korger and the "Hail Columbia" reached a friendly airfield, Lieutenant Korger related. “Hail Columbia” crash landed on Cyprus and everyone survived thanks to the flying skills of both Col. John Kane and his copilot, Lt. Johnny Young. Capt. Korger was awarded an oak leaf cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross for his service and valor on the mission. The following day the crew spent the day looking over the plane and marveling at the number of bullet and shell holes, each wondering how no one got seriously wounded. This would not be the only plane Harry flew in that would be destroyed. He would get chance number 2 in a month.
On September 3, 1943, Harry would fly what he thought would be his last (30th) mission before going home to his beloved Bernice. He was given the option of flying home and doing a bond tour, but Harry decided he should finish his missions. It was a decision he would later regret. His final mission was supposed to be routine, over Sulmona, Italy. On the way to the target, his assigned plane, “Big Operator” was attacked by JU-88’s and ME-110’s shooting rockets. They were hit several times and went into a flat spin. Harry jumped and earned the first of his two Caterpillar Club pins. Four of the crew were killed. Harry was injured and wounded.
In the years between WWII and his retirement, he never again saw combat, but that doesn’t mean he didn’t risk his life.
On Feb 16, 1956 he was the Navigator of a B-52 on a mission Near Tracy, CA. The plane caught on fire after an alternator failed, and exploded. Harry earned his 2nd Caterpillar Club pin. He ejected from the B-52 at 36,000 feet breaking his arm. He and 3 other crewmen survived, 4 did not. His B-52 was the first to be lost by the USAF.
After his retirement from the USAF in 1971, he eventually settled in Oregon where he lived with his wife and family until he passed away in 1995 at the age of 77.
For his career service Harry was awarded the following decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Purple Heart, the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and the Distinguished Service Medal
Military | First Lieutenant | B-24D Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
First Lieutenant Gilbert Benny Hadley was a B-24D Liberator bomber pilot with the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, "The Pyramiders", and the 344th Bombing Squadron, from Texas, based at Cairo, Egypt, Tobruk, and Benghazi, Libya, in the Mediterranean...
Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24D Co-Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
2nd Lt. Ronald Lee Helder was a B-24 pilot in the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 564th Bombing Squadron in WWII. He flew as Co-pilot with his friend, Command Pilot Lt. Lloyd H. Hughes, in the B-24D Lt. Helder called, 'Ole Kickapoo',...
Military | First Lieutenant | Radio Operator | 98th Bomb Group
Lt. Raymond B. Hubbard was assigned to the 9th Air force, the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron in Libya, North Africa, 1943. He took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying as a Waist Gunner and...
Military | Second Lieutenant | B-24 Command Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
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Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer, Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
John Riley Kane (January 5, 1907 – May 29, 1996) was a colonel in the United States Army Air Corps and later the United States Air Force. He received the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Congressional Medal of Honor in World War II, for his...
Military | Captain | B-24 Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Lt. Royden Louis LeBrecht was a B-24 Command pilot of the B-24D, #4111761, The 'Squaw' in North Africa in 1942-43. Lt. Lebrecht flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the Aug 1 1943 Ploesti raid, with the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bombardment Group, and the 344th...
Military | First Lieutenant | B-24D Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Pilot Lt. Sam Neeley flew his B-24D, named, 'Raunchy' on "Operation Tidal Wave", the famous bombing raid to destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, one of the most desperate and daring bombing raids of WWII.
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Military | Major | Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Lt. Robert Sternfels was a B-24D command bomber pilot in WWII in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bombing Group, the Pyramiders, and the 345th Bombing Squadron, who flew the famous B-24D bomber, 'The Sandman' on the mission Operation Tidal Wave to bomb the...
Military | Major | Navigator / Nose Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
Norman Whalen joined the Army Air Corps in 1941. After graduating from Navigator School in Monroe, Louisiana, he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned to the 9th Air force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron...
Military | Major | B-24 Command Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Lieutenant John S. Young was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Bored with college at SMU in Dallas, and knowing the country was headed for war, he joined the Army Air Force early in 1941 and began training as an aviation cadet. He was known as "Johnny"...
Group
The 98th trained for bombardment missions with B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942.
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Squadron
The 344th Bombing Squadron was first activated at MacDill Field, Florida as one of the original three squadrons assigned to the 98th Bombardment Group. The 344th soon moved to Barksdale Field, Louisiana, where it began to train as a Consolidated B-24...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D 'Joisey Bounce' was assigned to Pilot Col. Walter T. Stewart of the 330 Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, for the famous mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, Aug 1,1943. Col. Stewart changed his assigned plane...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, named 'The Sandman' and flown by Lt. Robert Sternfels in the 9th Air force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 345th Bomb Squadron, flew on the famous mission to destroy the German held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Lt. Sternfels flew in...
B-24 Liberator
- Not to be confused with #42-30406, 'THE VULGAR VIRGIN' of the 8th Air Force - 93rd Bomb Group - 328th Bomb Squadron - Also flew on the Ploesti mission by Pilot Lt. Claude Turner - Interned Turkey Aug 1, 1943 - Lt. Turner escaped from the Turks and...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, named 'Hadley's Harem' was Lt. Gilbert Hadley's personal airplane and the one he flew on the mission to destroy Hitler's oil refineries at Ploesti Romania in 1943.
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B-24 Liberator
The B-24D, 'Hail Columbia', # 41-11825, originally served in the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron. It was, first, the 344th Squadron's CO, Col. John R. Kane's, personal aircraft until Kane became the 98th Bomb Group's...
B-24 Liberator
The B-24D Liberator 41-11768, 'KICKAPOO', was piloted by Lt. John S. Young from Dallas, Texas as part of the 9th Air Force, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 344th Bombing Squadron, which arrived in North Africa in early 1943. This airplane and was Lt...
B-24 Liberator
Started out on the 1 Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, piloted by Lt Hoover Edwards and aborted near Corfu with turbo supercharger problems. Converted to a transport on 17 Aug 43.
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1 August 1943
Operation TIDAL WAVE. B24D Liberators attack the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The bombers flew low to avoid radar detection and dropped time delayed bombs. Out of the 177 B-24s that took part in the raid 167 managed to attack their targets. 57 B...
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| 26 January 2021 10:31:42 | Kickapoo | Changes to unit associations |
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TogetherWeServesd.com Black Sunday - Michael Hill Into the Fire - Duane Schults |
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| 29 June 2019 23:10:51 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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TogetherWeServesd.com Black Sunday - Michael Hill Into the Fire - Duane Schults |
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| 14 June 2019 05:04:15 | Kickapoo | Changes to role, biography and awards |
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FindaGrave Memorial ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- The Return Of Hadley's Harem - Michael Schultz |
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| 22 May 2019 22:37:28 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Togetherweserved.com Black Sunday - Michael Hill |
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| 22 May 2019 14:42:39 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Into the fire - Michael Hill |
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| 01 September 2018 10:44:10 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill |
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| 26 May 2018 20:17:51 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Into The fire - Duane schultz |
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| 26 May 2018 20:12:58 | Kickapoo | Changes to media associations |
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Into The Fire - Duane schultz |
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| 15 January 2018 12:04:32 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Air Force - Together We served |
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| 14 January 2018 03:28:14 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Air Force - Together We Served |
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| 14 January 2018 03:21:05 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Air Force - Together We Served |
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| 14 January 2018 03:15:47 | Kickapoo | Changes to biography |
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Air Force - Together We Served |
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| 14 January 2018 03:06:55 | Kickapoo | Changes to person associations and unit associations |
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Air Force - Together We Served |
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| 14 January 2018 02:56:04 | Kickapoo | Changes to awards |
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Air Force - Together We Served : Col. Harold Francis Korger |
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| 14 January 2018 02:43:21 | Kickapoo | Created entry with surname, middlename, firstname, nickname, nationality, highest rank, role, biography, aircraft associations and mission associations |
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Air Force - Together We Served : Col Harold Francis Corger |
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