The B-24D, named, Lil Joe, 41-11886, was flown by Pilot Lt. Lindley Hussey on Operation Tidal Wave to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. Lil Joe, was shot down and lost on the Ploesti mission. FTR. On approach to it's target, Lil Joe, was hit by flak in one of it's 400 gallon extra bomb bay gasoline tanks, and caught on fire from a large fuel leak. It's pilot, Lt. Hussey, pressed on and bombed his target with his burning airplane trailing flames from it's leaking gasoline tank. After dropping his bombs, Hussey pulled, Lil Joe, up into climb to enable a bail out for his crew. Six crewmen bailed out. But, only two survived their descent. SSgt Roy Carney, the tail gunner, was killed. KIA. Lil Joe, crashed in a field and exploded in flames. Lt. Hussey and his radioman were pulled from the wrecked aircraft badly burned, but survived their burns and became POW's. 4 POW. 5 KIA. A/C failed to return. FTR. 1 Aug, 1943. MACR 222.



Note : the B-24D, Lil Joe, 41-11886, lost over Ploesti, should not be confused with another B-24D in the MTO, named, similarly, Little Joe, with the serial number, 41-24195, which was also in the 9th Air Force, and the 98th Bomb Group, and flew on Operation Tidal Wave, returning safely to base. RTB. 1 Aug 43.