42-40776 - Old Blister Butt - Widow
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40775 - Old Blister Butt
Object Number - UPL 15378 - The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. Pilot Robert L Wright and crew. Flew on Ploesti oil refinery mission,...
The B-24D Liberator, 42-40776, Old Blister Butt, was originally deployed to Alconbury, U.K. in the 8th Air Force. It was later redeployed (TDY), as part of the 8th Air Force, the 389th Bomb Group, and the 564th Bomb Squadron, to Benghazi, Libya. Flown by Pilot Lt. Robert L. Wright, and his crew, Old Blister Butt, flew on the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Campina, north of Ploesti, Romania. 1 Aug 1943
On Leaving the target area, Robert Wright and his crew saw their friends in the B-24D, Ole Irish, in trouble and limping away from the Campina refinery area with one engine destroyed by flak, streaming vapor and smoke. Lt. Wright made the decision to slow down and fly as fighter cover for his buddies, and escorted them all the way to the Turkish coast and relative safety. Both planes, Ole Irish, and, Old Blister Butt, returned safely to Benghazi, Libya. 1 Aug 1943.
Later, after returning to Britain, Old blister Butt's new crew renamed it, Widow, with the same nose art.
Originally - 328th Bomb Squadron (N), 93rd BG, 8th Air Force.
Transferred - 564th Bomb Squadron (YO H), 389th Bomb Group. 8th Air Force.
Transferred - 566th Bomb Squadron (RR K+), 389th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force.
Name changed to, Widow, (B-24D-SA-95 CO) 406th Bomb Squadron, 801st (P) Bomb Group and to the 858th Bomb Squadron, the 492nd Bomb Group, in the 8th Air Force for "Carpetbagger" missions.
Salvaged war weary at Langford Lodge, North Ireland. 29 May 45
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35027471 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Major
- Role/Job: B-24D Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Berka, al Birkah
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: North Pick
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Stinger
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 415th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Ole Irish
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Old Blister Butt - Widow
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron 406th Bomb Squadron 564th Bomb Squadron 566th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Robert L Wright, returning safely to Libya. |
|
Assigned |
Alconbury AAF 102 | 328th BS, 93rd BG, 8th AF. | |
|
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 564th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF. | |
|
Assigned |
566th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. | ||
|
Assigned |
North Pickenham, AAF 143 | Name changed to 'Widow' (B-24DSA-95 CO) 406th BS, 801st(P) BG / 858th BS, 492nd BG, 8th AF for "Carpetbagger" missions. | |
|
Other Salvaged |
RAF Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland | Salvaged war-weary 29 May 45 at Langford Lodge, North Ireland |
