Frank Robinson
Military | Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
Commanding Officer 44th Bomb Group 1-April-1942 to 4-January-1943.
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98th Bomb Group
Group
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98th Bombardment Group (leather patch)
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B-24D Aircraft Of the 44th and 98th Bombardment Groups Attacking White IV The Astra Romano Refineries, Ploest Aug 1 1943
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T/Sgt Russell T Elkin, 98BG, 9AF.
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This insignia for the 98th Bombardment Group, The Pyramiders, is believed to be the original correct colors. The zig-zag black line was mainly painted yellow in North Africa
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Lt. Royden LeBrecht's B-24D, The "Squaw" . Royden flew The "Squaw" on the desperate mission to destroy Hitler's oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Aug 1, 1943. Both Lebrecht and The "Squaw" survived the mission. LeBrecht joined up with several straggler aircraft from his 98th Bomb Group and several of the 376th Bomb Group's pilots and planes south of Ploesti, who had followed their leader, Col. Addison Baker and broke away from Col. Kieth Compton's Lead to fly north and bomb Ploesti's refinery, "White IV", after Compton turned hid Lead aircraft away from Ploesti toward Bucharest. LeBrecht and his crew made it all the way south, following Col. John Kane's lead airplane, 'Hail Columbia', where they landed safely at the British Air base at Nicosia, Cyprus. Ploesti was Royden Lebrecht's last combat mission. After the mission, he returned to the U.S. and went on a year long war bond tour, flying his favorite B-24, 'The "Squaw" '.
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B-24D 'KICKAPOO' crash at Lete Airfield - Aug 1, 1943 - killing pilots, Lt. Robert Nespor and Lt. John C. Riley - #4 engine failure - 8 KIA / 2 WIA
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B-24D 'The Squaw' 41-11761 with pilot Lt. Royden LeBrecht and the 9th AF Pilots War Bond Tour - 1943
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B-24D-85-BO #42-40654 "Kate Smith" Code: R 98th BG - 345th BS - 12th AF
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B-24D - Lt. Roydon LeBrecht Command Pilot - 'The 'Squaw'. Flew on the Ploesti mission in the lead line of airplanes of the 98th Bomb Group attacking the refinery, code nemed, White IV. LeBrecht followed Col. John Kane in the 98th's Lead ship, 'Hail Columbia', through the flak nest south of Ploesti and on south all the way to the British airbase at Nicosia, Cyprus and home the next day to Beghazi. lt. After the "Tidal Wave" mission, Lt. LeBrecht and 'The Squaw' flew back to the U.S. and went on a War Bond Tour.
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This photo is the B-24D, 'THE VULGAR VIRGIN' - SN #41- 24198 - 9th Air Force, 98th Bomb Group, 344th Bomb Squadron, flown by command pilot Lt. Wallace C. Taylor. Lt. Taylor, flying just off the wing and slightly behind Col. John Kane in 'Hail Columbia' over White IV, entered a wall of smoke with 'Hail Columbia' and several other B-24s. When the small group of B-24s exited the smoke, 'THE VULGAR VIRGIN" was gone. It was shot down and lost Over the Astra Romano refinery after taking two direct flak hits. Approaching the smoke cloud, Lt. Taylor called for bailout over White IV. He was the only one of the four crewmen who bailed out at the low altitude of approximately 200 to 500 feet, who survived and became a prisoner of war - POW. The rest of the crew were KIA - August 1, 1943 - Note - Another B-24D flown on the Ploesti mission, was also named, 'THE VULGAR VIRGIN'. It was aircraft SN #42-40608 from Britain and the 8th Air force - the 93rd Bomb Group - and the 328th Bomb Squadron. It was flown by Lt. Claude Alvin Turner from the 8th Air Force. Lt. Turner and his crew survived the Ploesti mission, were hit by flak over their target and flew to Chorlu, Turkey, where they landed and were interned after the Ploesti mission, Aug 1, 1943. Lt. Turner and his crew were released by the Turks and returned to Britain after the Ploesti mission. He and his crew were shot down and KIA over the North Sea, Nov 13, 1943.
The 98th trained for bombardment missions with B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942.
The group was alerted and departed for the Middle East on 15 July 1942, arriving in Palestine in late July 1942. The 98th was initially assigned to the USMEAF (United States Middle East Air Force). However, the USMEAF was dissolved on 12 November 1942. At that time, the 98th came under the 9th Air Force. It flew its first mission to Mersa Matruh, Libya on 1 August 1942, with the aircraft being serviced by Royal Air Force personnel until 98th maintenance personnel arrived in mid-August 1942.
It supported the British Eighth Army in its westward advance from Egypt into Libya and Tunisia. It bombed land targets, air fields, railroad lines, shipping, and harbor installations in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Crete, and Greece to cut enemy supply lines to Africa and to prepare for the Allied invasion of Sicily and Italy. The 98th earned a Distinguished Unit Citation (DUC) for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from August 1942 to August 1943. It received a second DUC for participation in a low-level bombing raid on enemy-held oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, on 1 August 1943. On this raid, of 47 B-24s launched, only 21 returned safely. One, the 'Kickapoo', crashed on takeoff with the loss of all crew members except two. Six planes aborted before reaching the target. Seventeen went down in enemy territory. Two went down at sea. The Group Commander, Col. John R. (Killer) Kane was awarded the Medal of Honor for his leadership. Kane's copilot, Lt. John S. Young, was awarded his third Distinguished Flying Cross for his part in the mission.
The 98th was under the command of the Twelfth Air Force in September and October 1943. From 1 November 1943 it was under the Fifteenth Air Force and moved to Italy. It flew many long-range missions to France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Romania to bomb enemy heavy industries, airdromes, harbors, oil fields, and communication centers. On another raid on Ploesti on 9 July 1944, Lt. Donald Pucket sacrificed his life trying to save three of his crew members who could not or would not bail out of their doomed B-24. Donald Pucket was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his sacrifice.
In the summer of 1944, the 98th participated in the invasion of southern France, assisted in the Soviet advance into the Balkans, and supported the partisans and guerrillas in Yugoslavia and neighboring countries. It flew a total of 417 missions and earned a total of 15 battle streamers as well as two Presidential Unit Citations.
The group returned to the United States as the war was ending in Europe, where it trained in preparation for movement to the Pacific Theater. It was re-designated the 98th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy) and equipped with Boeing B-29 Superfortresses, but the war with Japan ended before redeployment.
The 98th was inactivated as a group on 10 November 1945. However, the 343rd, 344th, and 345th Squadrons were reassigned to B-29 groups. The 343d Squadron was assigned to the 40th Bomb Group at March Air Force Base, California. and inactivated on 27 November 1946. The 344th was assigned to the 444th Bomb Group at Davis-Monthan Field, Arizona and inactivated on 1 October 1946. The 345th was assigned to the 462nd Bomb Group at McDill Field, Florida and inactivated on 31 March 1946.
- US Air Force Combat Units of World War II Description
Constituted as 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 3 Feb 1942 Trained with B-24’s. Moved to the Mediterranean theater, Jul- Aug 1942, and served in that area until the end of the war. Assigned to Ninth AF in Nov 1942, to Twelfth AF in Sep 1943, and to Fifteenth AF in Nov 1943.
Entered combat in Aug 1942. Bombed shipping and harbor installations in Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, Crete, and Greece to cut enemy supply lines to Africa. Also hit airdromes and rail facilities in Sicily and Italy. Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from Aug 1942 to Aug 1943. Awarded another DUC for participation in the low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943: although its target had already been attacked by another group, the 98th proceeded through dense smoke and intense flak to bomb its assigned objective. Col John R Kane, group commander, received the Medal of Honor for leading the 98th to complete this attack despite the hazards of oil fires, delayed-action bombs, and alerted defenses.
Afterward the group flew many long-range missions to Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and the Balkans to bomb such strategic targets as industries, airdromes, harbors, and communications, and engaged primarily in such operations until Apr 1945.
1st Lt Donald D Pucket, one of the group’s pilots, was awarded the Medal of Honor for action during a mission against oil refineries at Ploesti on 9 Jul 1944: just after bombing the target, Lt Pucket’s plane was crippled by antiaircraft fire and crew members were wounded; he calmed the crew, administered first aid, surveyed the damage, and, realizing it was impossible to reach friendly territory, gave the order to abandon ship; refusing to desert three men who were unable to leave the bomber, Lt Pucket stayed with the plane that a few moments later crashed on a mountainside.
In addition to strategic operations, the 98th also flew interdictory and support missions. Aided Allied forces at Anzio and Cassino. Participated in the invasion of Southern France. Assisted the Russian advance in the Balkans. Returned to the US, Apr-May 1945.
- Commanding officers
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Hugo Rush
Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Commanding Officer | 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs
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John Kane
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... -
Julian Bleyer
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Pilot B-24 41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. ...
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Structure
- Part of
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15th Air Force
The Fifteenth Air Force was one of two Strategic Air forces in Europe, along with the Eighth Air Force. ... -
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US Army Middle East Air Force
US Army Middle East Air Force (USAMEAF) was activated on 28 June 1942 in Cairo, Egypt. It brought together several units which had been operating the area including the HALPRO Detachment, and Lewis Brereton's 9th Bomb Squadron. ...
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- Encompassing
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343rd Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrison Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic... -
344th Bomb Squadron
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... -
345th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Established as a B-24 Liberator heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South Atlantic Transport Route transiting from Morrison Field, Florida though the Caribbean to Brazil; performed trans-Atlantic... -
415th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
Established as a B-24 Liberator reconnaissance squadron in early 1942. Engaged initially in antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico; redesignated as a heavy bomb squadron and trained by Third Air Force. Deployed to Egypt in June 1942 over South...
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- Previously was
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Operation Tidal Wave
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... -
Herbert Arens
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Pilot B-24 Liberator 41-11803 'Rosie Wrecked Em', 344th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid on the wing of Col. Kane, having to abort before the target because of mechanical problems. -
Robert Austin
Military | First Lieutenant | Bombardier | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ploesti in B-24 41-24198; Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 166 Awards: PH. -
Clement Badeau
Military | Technical Sergeant | Flight Engineer / Top Turret | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Underwood crew member, B-24 Liberator 41-11921 'Northern Star' 'Doc', flew on the 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid. The aircraft successfully bombed the target and returned safely to Benghazi, Libya despite being intercepted... -
Luther Bailey
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Turret Gunner | 100th Bomb Group
Obituary for Luther Bailey ... -
William Banks
Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid in B-24 42-40208 'Sad Sack'. 50 x combat missions. ETD Awards: SS, DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME. -
Thomas Bennett
Military | Captain | Pilot | 491st Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40082. -
Neville Benson
Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 98th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in the Lead B-24D Liberator # 41-11825, 'Hail Columbia' piloted by Col. John R. "Killer" Kane and Lt. John S. Young. -
John Bentley
Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | 98th Bomb Group
Received DFC on 15 July 1944 per General Order 1847 -
Hilary Blevins
Military | Captain | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying in B-24 Liberator 42-40316. -
Julian Bleyer
Military | Colonel | Pilot | 98th Bomb Group
Pilot B-24 41-11896 flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, returning safely to Libya. ... -
42-52744 'Ding Dong Daddy From Dixie' 'Capricorn'
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 834BS, 486BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred in Jul-44 to 835BS. May have been transferred briefly to 493rd BG but definitely transferred to MTO 10 Mar 45 by BAD 3 and assigned to 98th BG. Salvaged 27 Apr 45. -
42-40402 'The Sandman'
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... -
42-40364 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
B-24 Liberator
Capt. James A. Gunn, Jr. - Pilot (KIA), 2nd Lt. Richard C. Williamson - Co-Pilot (KIA) ... -
41-24198 'THE VULGAR VIRGIN' - 'Hell From Heaven' - 'Shoot You're Faded'
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... -
41-24311 'Hadley's Harem'
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. ... -
41-11819 'Raunchy'
B-24 Liberator
B-24D-CO Liberator - 'Raunchy' ... -
41-11840 The Witch
B-24 Liberator
Failed To Return - This aircraft was lost on the low-level Ploesti mission 1 Aug 43. It made a forced landing near the border of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia following a running fight with enemy fighters. Six of the crew became POWs in Bulgaria, the other... -
42-40655 'Four Eyes' 'Damfino'
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed To Return - 1-Aug-43 Ploesti raid, Shot down by enemy fighters, lost near the target. 10 KIA MACR 174 -
42-40322 Cornhusker
B-24 Liberator
Shot down over the Ionian Sea by Bf109G's from JG 27/IV while returning from the August 1,1943 low-level mission to Ploesti,Romania. All 10 crew members were KIA. MACR 178 ... -
42-40102 'Old Baldy'
B-24 Liberator
Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) with John Dore crew Ploesti; Lost near the target, AA hit point blank at 30 feet or less from a Romanian 80 mm. 10 x Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 223.
Missions
Stations
| Station | Location | Date |
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| Based | Fayid | 11 November 1942 – 9 February 1943 |
| Based | Benina | 14 February 1943 – 25 March 1943 |
| Based | Berca | 26 March 1943 – 4 April 1943 |
| Based | Benina | 4 April 1943 – 25 September 1943 |
| Based | Lecce | 17 January 1944 – 19 April 1945 |
Connections
People
Aircraft
Citations
Two Distinguished Unit Citations:
Received a DUC for action against the enemy in the Middle East, North Africa, and Sicily from Aug 1942 to Aug 1943. Awarded another DUC for participation in the low-level assault on oil refineries at Ploesti on 1 Aug 1943: although its target had already been attacked by another group, the 98th proceeded through dense smoke and intense flak to bomb its assigned objective.
Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
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| 16 September 2020 01:47:57 | decwriter | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
NARA files verified decorations to Ploesti raiders. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 26 September 2019 14:23:05 | Emily | Changes to us air force combat units of world war ii description and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
Air Force Combat Units of World War II |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 July 2019 07:30:58 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Anatomy Of A Disaster - Gen. Hoyt S. Vandenberg ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- Together We Served.com ---- Into The Fire - Duane Schultz |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 March 2019 23:32:53 | Dieterle | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
98th Operations Group site. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 17 March 2019 23:25:34 | Dieterle | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
98th Operations Group site. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 08 April 2018 06:03:28 | Kickapoo | Changes to person associations |
| Sources | ||
Black Sunday by Michael Hill |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 12 March 2018 13:06:02 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Burning Hitler's black Gold by Robert Sternfels |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 13 January 2018 23:10:42 | Kickapoo | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
"Into The Fire" by Duane Schultz Part III Chap 6 , page 105 : " Not all of the planes made it [ the takeoff ]. 'The Kickapoo of the 376th lost an engine shortly after getting airborne. With a sickening jolt the Kickapoo hit the runway, smashed into a concrete telephone pole, and exploded.' Only two of the crew survived, one with horrible burns over most of his body." |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 21 November 2016 04:52:48 | 466thHistorian | Changes to nicknames |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 13:26:35 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 03:22:28 | 466thHistorian | Changes to stations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 03:03:40 | 466thHistorian | Changes to aircraft associations and commanding officers associations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 02:58:02 | 466thHistorian | Changes to motto, insignia and citations |
| Sources | ||
http://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 01 November 2016 02:32:36 | 466thHistorian | Created entry with type, category, name, description, air forces, aircraft types, unit encompassing associations, aircraft associations and media associations |
| Sources | ||
