42-40655 - Four Eyes - Damfino

media-52281.jpeg UPL 52281 B-24D Liberator 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, and crew lost on the Ploesti raid. 1 Aug 43. MACR 174 ~ William R DeBusk : Navigator - Robert C Elliott : Gunner - Zelwood A Gravlin : Gunner - Lawrence J Hadcock : Pilot - James B Hale : Engineer - Ralph D Kolb : Gunner - John E Kraft : Co-Pilot - Eugene J O'Mara : Gunner - Lawrence E Reitz : Radio Operator - Peter A Timpo : Bombardier

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40655 - Four Eyes - Damfino

Object Number - UPL 52281 - B-24D Liberator 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, and crew lost on the Ploesti raid. 1 Aug 43. MACR 174 ~ William R DeBusk : Navigator ...

The B-24D bomber, 42-40655, named, Four Eyes, and, Damfino, flown by Lt. Donald J. Hadcock, was assigned to the 343rd Bombing Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force.

Four Eyes, was lost on Operation Tidal Wave, Ploesti Romania. Shot down by enemy fighters, lost near the target. 10 KIA. Failed To Return. FTR. 1 Aug 43. MACR 174 - Pilot Lt. Lawrence Haddock





B-24D, Four Eyes - Damfino, Crew On The Ploesti Mission :



◼ William R. DeBusk :: Navigator

◼Robert C. Elliott :: Gunner

◼Zelwood A. Gravlin :: Gunner

◼Lawrence J. Hadcock :: Pilot

◼James B. Hale :: Engineer

◼Ralph D. Kolb :: Gunner

◼John E. Kraft :: Co-Pilot

◼Eugene J. O'Mara :: Gunner

◼Lawrence E. Reitz :: Radio Operator

◼Peter A. Timpo :: Bombardier - Contributor - Brendan Wood

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

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 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18074761 / O-670102
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38013630
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31125292
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12051931 / O-793322
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38088239
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Gunner

Places

  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Berka, al Birkah

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Four Eyes - Damfino
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed To Return FTR

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Failed To Return - 1st Aug 43 Ploesti raid, Shot down by enemy fighters, lost near the target. 10 KIA MACR 174

Assigned

Benina, Libya Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - B-24 - 42-40655 - Four eyes - Damfino

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40665 - Four Eyes - Damfino

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

HonorStates.org - Eugene J. O'Mara

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Punctuation. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Best Web - 42-40655 - Four Eyes - Damfino

Date
ContributorKickapoo
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Sources

Punctuation, spacing spelling. - Kickapoo

Date
ContributorJoe Poire
Changes
Sources

Joe Poire, from web site "Nose Art" under B24D 42-40655

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

AAM Database / http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 174

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