41-11766 - Chug-A-Lug
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.
Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug
The B-24D Liberator, bomber, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, was in the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force, and flew on Operation Tidal Wave, the low level mission to bomb the Romanian oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania, on the Ploesti mission piloted by Lt. Leroy B. Morgan. Returned to Benghazi, Libya. 1 KIA - T/Sgt. James Van Ness, and 2 WIA - 2nd Lt. Victor Larson, Navigator, and T/Sgt. Robert L. Tipton - Engineer. 1 Aug 43
Chug-A-Lug's Crew On War Bond Tour 1944 :
TSgt. Richard A. Kraham - radio operator -
SSgt. John I. White - waist gunner -
SSgt. John Martko - tail gunner -
1st Lt. Charles B. Hill - navigator -
1st Lt. John W. Childers - co-pilot -
1st Lt. Reuben J. Weltha - pilot -
SSgt. Donald F. Swanson - waist gunner -
1st Lt. Richard J. Morrow - bombardier -
SSgt. Prentice Boston - waist gunner -
TSgt. Russel T. Elkin - engineer -
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35740029
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39305311 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13085441
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14065301
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12137641
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Soluch Airfield
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Aircraft
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Survived Ploesti |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Leroy B Morgan, returning to Libya, 1 KIA / 2 WIA. |
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. |