41-23811 Fascinatin Witch

media-14057.jpeg UPL 14057 Anthony Eden doing a radio broadcast from the airbase at Snetterton Heath (Station 138),Norfolk,England on June 25,1943. Just to the rear of Mr. Eden is standing Lt.Gen. Jacob Devers. The plane being used for the background is "Fascinatin' Witch" from the 66th BS , 44th BG, 8th AF. She was a B-24D Liberator 41-23811 and was a veteran of the August 1,1943 low-level mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.

Her crew is standing behind Mr. Eden, they are (L-R):
Capt. Robert (E). Miller, F/O Arthur W. Callahan, Lt. Lee E. Zaruba, Lt. Robert R. LaPlace, T/Sgt. William J. Murphy, T/Sgt. Martin J. McDonnell, S/Sgt. Daniel W. Rowland, S/Sgt. Robert G. Newmes, S/Sgt. Hugh J. Malone, S/Sgt. Clarence J. Ducote

USAAF Photo.

Object Number - UPL 14057 - Anthony Eden doing a radio broadcast from the airbase at Snetterton Heath (Station 138),Norfolk,England on June 25,1943. Just to the rear of Mr. Eden...

B-24D Liberator 41-23811 "Fascinatin' Witch" from the 66th BS, 44th BG, 8th AF a veteran of the August 1, 1943 low-level mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania.



Crew List:

Capt. Robert W. Miller,

F/O Arthur W. Callahan,

Lt. Lee E. Zaruba,

Lt. Robert R. LaPlace,

T/Sgt. William J. Murphy,

T/Sgt. Martin J. McDonnell

S/Sgt. Daniel W. Rowland,

S/Sgt. Robert G. Newmes,

S/Sgt. Hugh J. Malone

S/Sgt. Clarence J. Ducote



A/C was shot by a Bf109G-6 from JG 27/I near Weiner, Neustadt on Oct 1, 1943, killing three of the crew, the other seven became POW's.

Crew list:

Pilot 2nd Lt. Richard Bridges POW escaped,

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Delmar Phelps POW,

Navigator 2nd Lt. Max Stiefel POW,

Bombardier 2nd Lt. William Schuler POW,

Engineer T.Sgt Robert DeSalvio POW,

Radio Man T.Sgt Donald Bridges POW, - (MACR 15860)

Waist Gunner S.Sgt Jacob Rosenstein KIA,

Belly Gunner S.Sgt Charles Sasek POW,

Tail Gunner S.Sgt George Mercer KIA,

Waist Gunner S.Sgt Kenneth Garrett KIA.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95260) nicknamed "Lili Marlene" of the 66th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group flies in formation with two comrades. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'B-24 H & B-24 J OF 44th B.G. 66th Sqdn'

66th Bomb Squadron

  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Allen L Babin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-794067
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Donald O Bridges

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33279989
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Arthur W Callahan

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: T-190576
  • Highest Rank: Flight Officer
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Robert DeSalvio

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer

Clarence Joseph Ducote

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34235546
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Tidalwave survivor

Malta 1 August 1943 B-24D Liberator 41-23811"Fascinatin' Witch" from the 66th BS, 44th BG, 8th AF a veteran of the August 1,1943 low-level mission to bomb the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Diverted to Malta.

Crashed

Wiener Neustadt, Austria 1 October 1943 A/C was shot by a Bf109G-6 from JG 27/I near Weiner, Neustadt on Oct 1, 1943, killing three of the crew, the other seven became POW's.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

USAAF Photo

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

MACR 15860 - http://www.fold3.com
http://www.8thairforce.com/44thbg

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

USAAF Photo

41-23811: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 14057 - Anthony Eden doing a radio broadcast from the...

Object number: UPL 14060 - Nose art of B-24D Liberator 41-23811 "Fascinatin'...