42-40782 Chattanooga Choo Choo, Shoot, Fritz. Youre Faded
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
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Missions
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. |