41-24225 Flak Alley
Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943.
Lost 24 Feb 44 on her 47th mission. Crashed in a small village south of Gotha. Pilot Lt Phillip W Bell, 4 POW, 6 KIA. MACR 2922. Eye witness noted that after bombing the target, Gotha, Germany, this aircraft was hit by prop wash and fell out of formation. Enemy aircraft concentrated their attacks on this A/C and it began to struggle. Six chutes were seen to come out of the A/C before it was seen to explode at approximately 1328 hours.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16087379 / O-686193
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14161472
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34572318
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-681117
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31158071
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator, Radio Operator Gunner
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Participated in 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid, Returned to Libya. Pilot David W Alexander. |
Other Failed to Return (FTR) |
Gotha, Germany | 24 February 1944 | Lost 24 Feb 44 on her 42nd mission. Crashed in a small village south of Gotha. Pilot Lt Phillip W Bell, 4 POW, 6 KIA. MACR 2922 |
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | TDY 9th AF. |
Revisions
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2922 / http://www.b24bestweb.com
Mission number corrected, changed from 42 to 47. Mission 43 was to Polesti. Source is "8 Ball Tails," Journal of the 44th Bomb Group Veterans Association Volume 9 Issue 1, Winter 2009.
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com / MACR 2922 / http://www.b24bestweb.com
MACR 2922 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database