Johnnie Idus White

Military
media-15201.jpeg UPL 15201 B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, piloted by LeRoy B Morgan, returning safely to Libya. 1 WIA - 1 KIA 1 Aug 43. Photo taken on war bond tour.
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.

Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug

Object Number - UPL 15201 - B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, ...

Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 8AF USAAF. John Childers crew. Completed tour. Returned to USA with B-24 'Chug A Lug' for war bonds tour.





Awards: AM (OLC), PH, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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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: 39305311 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Soluch Airfield

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Plainview, AR 3 December 1909 Son of John Thomas and Dora Lucy [Peeler] White.

Died

Plainview, AR 2 March 1965

Buried

New Bethel Cemetery, Kingston, Yell County, AR 5 March 1965 New Bethel Cemetery Kingston, Yell County, Arkansas

Enlisted

Little Rock, AR

Based

Benina Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Hospitalised

Libya Hospitalised, Shrapnel wound in neck, Sep-43.

Other

Hospitalised

Brooke Army Hospital, San Antonia, TX Jul 1949 - Feb 1951 Brooke Army Hospital Arthritis in Elbow, Fracture, Kidney stone, Ankylosis knee (stiff joint) Medical retirement

Other

Hospitalised

Libya Catarrhal inflamation of Eustachian tube, RTD. Apr-44.

Revisions

Johnnie Idus White: Gallery (1 items)