UPL 39789

IMAGE

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Copilot Lt. John C. Riley, and Pilot Lt. Bob Nespor, Lt. John Young's good friend from the98th Bomb Group's 344th Bomb Squadron, were reassigned to fly Lt. Young's plane, Kickapoo, on the Ploesti oil refinery mission. Both Lt. Nespor, Lt Riley, and most of their crew were killed, crashing in flames at Lete, Benghazi, when one of Kickapoo's engines failed, just after taking off for the Ploesti mission. 8 KIA - 2 WIA. August 1, 1943.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18065717 / O-725567
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Revisions

Date:
ChangesChanges to person associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
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Removed associations not depicted in image.

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ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to collection, person associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
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John S Young Jr - personal archives

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ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to caption
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personal archives - John S Young Jr

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ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to caption, person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill --- Personal Archives - Kickapoo

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ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to caption
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to caption
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

Date:
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesChanges to caption
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Additions to caption. - Kickapoo

Date:
ChangesChanges to person associations, place associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
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Removed associations not depicted in image.

Date:
ContributorKickapoo
ChangesCreated entry with collection, caption, unit associations, person associations, aircraft associations and mission associations
Sources

Ploesti Anatomy Of A Disaster - Gen Hoyt S. Vandenberg ---- Black Sunday - Michael Hill ---- John S. Young, Jr. - personal archives