Eugene Joseph O'Mara

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-22606.jpeg UPL 22606 Staff Sergeant Eugene O'Mara, Gunner, on the B-24D, Four Eyes, on the Ploesti bombing mission, Killed In Action. KIA. 1 Aug 1943. Therese J O'Mara-Poire-Bedard

Best Web - B-24 - Four Eyes

Object Number - UPL 22606 - Staff Sergeant Eugene O'Mara, Gunner, on the B-24D, Four Eyes, on the Ploesti bombing mission, Killed In Action. KIA. 1 Aug 1943.

SSgt. Eugene J. O'Mara was assigned to the 343rd Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, and the 9th Air Force in the USAAF. Crashed on the bombing mission to Ploesti in the B-24D, 42-40655, Four Eyes. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 174

SERVICE OVERVIEW

Name Eugene J O'Mara

From Belknap County, New Hampshire

Born October 19, 1920

Death August 1, 1943

War World War II

ID 11039846

Rank Staff Sergeant

Specialty Gunner

Branch US Army Air Corps

Group 98th Bomber Group, Heavy, 343rd Bomber Squadron

Cause FOD - Finding of Death

Location Ploesti, Romania

Awarded

★ Distinguished Flying Cross

★ Purple Heart

ORIGINS

Eugene J O'Mara was born on October 19, 1920. According to our records New Hampshire was his home or enlistment state and Belknap County included within the archival record. We have Laconia listed as the city.

SERVICE

He had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces. Served during World War II. O'Mara had the rank of Staff Sergeant. His military occupation or specialty was Gunner. Service number assignment was 11039846. Attached to 98th Bomber Group, Heavy, 343rd Bomber Squadron.

CASUALTY

During his service in World War II, Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant O'Mara experienced a critical situation which ultimately resulted in loss of life on August 1, 1943. Recorded circumstances attributed to: FOD - Finding of Death. Incident location: Ploesti, Romania.

DETAILS

On August 1, 1943 he was on the crew of the B-24D Liberator, 42-40655, Four Eyes, during a mission to bomb the oil refineries at Campina, Ploesti, in Romania.



This was Operation Tidal Wave, one of the most daring air raids initiated during the war. Allied bombers flew at tree-top level to bomb the hotly defended Romanian oil refinery, critical for the German war machine. They were among the bombers shot down by anti-aircraft fire. There were no survivors on this crew.

INCIDENT :

We identified 10 casualties in our archive that might be related to the, SN 42-40655 incident on August 1, 1943.

◼William R DeBusk :: Navigator

◼Robert C Elliott :: Gunner

◼Zelwood A Gravlin :: Gunner

◼Lawrence J Hadcock :: Pilot

◼James B Hale :: Engineer

◼Ralph D Kolb :: Gunner

◼John E Kraft :: Co-Pilot

◼Eugene J O'Mara :: Gunner

◼Lawrence E Reitz :: Radio Operator

◼Peter A Timpo :: Bombardier

REMEMBERED

Eugene J O'Mara is buried or memorialized at Saint Lamberts Cemetery, Laconia, Belknap County, New Hampshire.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Distinguished Flying Cross

★ Purple Heart

Connections

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

Units served with

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 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31125292
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12051931 / O-793322
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Four Eyes - Damfino
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 343rd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Laconia, NH 19 October 1920 Son of Josephine O'Mara.

Enlisted

Manchester, NH 21 May 1942 Manchester, New Hampshire

Died

Killed in action

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed on 1-Aug-43 on raid to Ploesti in 'Four Eyes' 42-40655
Laconia, NH, USA

Buried

Saint Lamberts Cemetery Laconia Belknap County NH Re-Interred Saint Lamberts Cemetery Laconia Belknap County New Hampshire, USA

Based

1 August 1943 Assigned to 343BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

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Contributordecwriter
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Updated awards and bio section. No AM file exists for SSgt O'Mara.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99440820/eugene-joseph-o'mara

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ContributorKickapoo
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Eugene J. O'Mara - Honor Stateshttps://www.honorstates.org

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ContributorKickapoo
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Best Web - B-24 - 42-40655 - Four Eyes

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ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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ContributorKickapoo
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Black Sunday - Michael Hill

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

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ContributorJoe Poire
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Therese Poire-Omara- Bedard collection

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ContributorJoe Poire
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J. Poire, Nephew

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ContributorJoe Poire
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From the collection of Therese J Poire-O'Mara- Bedard

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ContributorJoe Poire
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From the collection of Therese J Poire-O'Mara-Bedard

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ContributorJoe Poire
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Handwritten note from my Uncle, Eugene O'Mara, to his mother, Josephine, detailing the crew of the Damfino. From the personal effects of his sister, Therese-O'Mara-Poire-Bedard

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ContributorJoe Poire
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From the personal effects of his sister, Therese O'Mara-Poire -Bedard

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ContributorJoe Poire
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Information from the personal effects of my mother, Therese O'Mara-Poire-Bedard.

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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AAM Database.

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ploesti

Eugene Joseph O'Mara: Gallery (5 items)