42-40782 Chattanooga Choo Choo, Shoot, Fritz. Youre Faded
Object Number - UPL 15344 - B-24 Liberator #42-40782 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Robert J...
B-24 Liberator 42-40782 'Chattanooga Choo Choo' 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF, flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Robert J O'Reilly, lost over Romania on return flight, crash landed. 1 KIA / 9 POW. MACR 158.
Aircraft took flak hits that riddled the plane, shot out one engine, and cut many vital control cables. As the aircraft left the area, it became uncontrollable, and the pilot crash-landed it approximately 2 miles south of Ploesti at Floresti, Romania. Nine of the crew survived and were captured, T/Sgt Kees was killed in either the attack or the crash.
Crew:
Pilot 1st Lt Robert J O'Reilly, Co Pilot 2nd Lt Ernest L Poulson, Nav 2nd Lt Richard W Britt,
Bomb 2nd Lt Alfred D Romano, Eng/TT T/Sgt Frank J Kees [KIA], Radio T/Sgt Clell B Riffle,
Ball Turret S/Sgt Troy O McCary, Waist S/Sgt Jack W Bowker, Waist S/Sgt Phillip A Rurak, Tail gun S/Sgt Louis Medeiros.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth 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 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: T
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Florești 407280, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Flew on 1st Aug 43 Ploesti oil refinery raid piloted by Robert J O'Reilly, lost over Romania on return flight, crash landed. 1 KIA / 9 POW. MACR 158. |
|
Assigned |
Benghazi, Libya | 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. TDY 9th AF. |
