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Last of Ploesti Raiders

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  • Last of Ploesti Raiders

    One of 178 liberators that toof off from Benghazi to bomb oil refineries in Ploesti.
    Attached Files
    Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy rather in power than use; and keep thy friend under thine own life's key; be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech.

  • #2
    Now that is cool.

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    • #3
      Thanks Big K! Where is that on display?

      BTW, forgot to invite you to the big WAB dinner...sorry!
      “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
      Mark Twain

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      • #4
        The remainder of the Aircraft exposed here :http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/english/index.html

        and heres the story:

        (the translation errors are mine and tried my best and fast)

        it was a B-24 D Liberator "Hadley's Harem" with the serial 41-24311-L manufactured in 1941.

        Being a member of USAAF 98th Bomber Group "Pyramyders" attacked to Ploesti at 1 August 1943.

        "Hadley's Harem" was the first bomber at the left side of "Flight One" commanded by John R. "Killer" Kane.

        The Crew:
        Captain Pilot Gilbert B. Hadley,
        Pilot James R. Lindsay,
        Navigator Harold Tabacoff,
        Engineer Russell Page,
        Bomber Leon Storms,
        Communications William Leonard,
        Gunner Chistopher Holweger (Ammo),
        Gunner Pershing W. Waples,
        Gunner Leroy Newton,
        Gunner Frank Nemeth.

        The Target of 98th was the biggest petroleum refinery "White Four" named Astro Romana, dangerously protected by stationary AA emplkacements and an additional railway AA battery

        Due to bad weather above the Adriatic 2 Bomber groups are separated eachother and bound to use radio which caused to high casualties due to alertness of Germans.

        First shell entered from the nose. Bomber Storms died instantly and Navigator Tabacoff injured. The 2nd engine was jammed.

        Engineer Russel Page manually opened the bomb-bay and released all.

        The aircraft was heavily damaged so they began to their way home towards Benghasi. But soon they realised that they can not make it and changed their route towards the British Airbase at Cyprus by passing over Turkey.

        Over Anatolia the 3rd engine also jammed and the 1st start to loose oil pressure just after the mountains of Toros.

        They decided to try an emergency landing to the mediterranean shores of Turkey.While descending near Manavgat the both remainder engines jammed too.

        With the first touch to the water the plane crashed violently and sunk at once.

        Both pilots never managed to get out from the sinking aircraft.

        The remaining crew are rescued and first aided by nearby Turkish villagers and sent to Istanbul American Hospital (Admiral Bristol).

        All the remaining crew are taken as "shipwrecked persons" and released by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
        Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy rather in power than use; and keep thy friend under thine own life's key; be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech.

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        • #5
          Albany Rifles,

          thanks for your kindly thought, consider that i was there :)
          Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy rather in power than use; and keep thy friend under thine own life's key; be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech.

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          • #6
            Ploesti was an incredible display of determination and bravery. 5 Medals of Honor were awarded that day.
            “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
            Mark Twain

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Albany Rifles View Post
              Ploesti was an incredible display of determination and bravery. 5 Medals of Honor were awarded that day.
              and one of the most decisive operations in the ww2.

              crippled nazis petrol production th the death, right?
              Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy rather in power than use; and keep thy friend under thine own life's key; be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech.

              Comment


              • #8
                Originally posted by Big K View Post
                and one of the most decisive operations in the ww2.

                crippled nazis petrol production th the death, right?
                The campaign did, but not the original raid on 1 AUG 43. It took the 9th & 15th Air Forces over a year to do that.
                “Loyalty to country ALWAYS. Loyalty to government, when it deserves it.”
                Mark Twain

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                • #9
                  This is truly a historic find. The fact that one of the crew of the aircraft participated in the recovery.

                  Were the remains of the crew that did not survive found in the aircraft?

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                  • #10
                    Originally posted by Equilibrium View Post
                    This is truly a historic find. The fact that one of the crew of the aircraft participated in the recovery.

                    Were the remains of the crew that did not survive found in the aircraft?
                    unfortunately no info about that but i'll keep my eyes open for it.
                    Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none; be able for thine enemy rather in power than use; and keep thy friend under thine own life's key; be checked for silence, but never taxed for speech.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Big K View Post
                      The Target of 98th was the biggest petroleum refinery "White Four" named Astro Romana, dangerously protected by stationary AA emplacements and an additional railway AA battery
                      It was a real flak train equip with 20mm quad batteries ,the Pyramidiers had overcome it by placing a bomb on the tracks , due to the high rate of fire and the low level flying of the bombers was one of the most deadly flak batteries.
                      Besides of the courage shown by the Pyramidiers ( entering the target area when the flak was already alerted ) they made no navigational errors ( the forward bombers groups missed they're targets and attacked Astra_Romana.)
                      Last edited by gabriel; 16 May 09,, 17:48.

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