mghcal Posted June 8, 2014 Share #1 Posted June 8, 2014 Here's a grouping from a POW of the Operation Tidalwave Ploesti mission. It's attributed to waistgunner SSgt. Raymond A. Heisner who flew on B-24D 41-11886 - "Lil Joe" 345th BS, 98th BG, (The Pyramiders) piloted by 1st Lt. Lindley P. Hussey. On that day they were one of forty six Liberators belonging to the 98th BG who would start out for Ploesti, this group was led by Colonel John ‘Killer’ Kane. Their target was the Astro Romana refinery, White Four Target. On the way there 7 of the 98th BG aborted, while over the Mediterranean SSgt. Heisner's B-24 Lil Joe had a faulty fuel connection losing 800 gallons of fuel from the bomb bay tanks yet still they pressed on knowing they probably couldn't make it back to Tunisia. When they got to Ploesti they saw that their target had already been attacked, the 93rd had made a navigational error and had come in from the wrong direction bombing the 98th's target which was now an inferno. Still the 98th and 44th BG pressed on at tree top level with their gunners suppressing air defense ground crews and a hidden flak train disabling the train and destroying some ground units. In front of them was their target which was a mass of raging oil fires, heavy smoke, secondary explosions, and delayed fuse bombs dropped earlier by the 93rd, but into the inferno they flew. On the "Lil Joe" they set up for their bombing run and flew into the fire, when they emerged the bomb bay was in flames from the leaked gasoline so the pilot tried to gain some altitude for a bailout. 6 men jumped at 75-100 feet with only 3 surviving the jump, as soon as they jumped the plane exploded and crashed in a field. Somehow the Pilot and Radioman, though badly burned, survived the crash and were pulled out by Romanians. I'm not sure what happened to one of the 3 who survived the jump since only 4 of the crew were said to have survived and are listed as POWs. All of the crewmembers on Operation Tidalwave would receive the DFC for the mission, there were 5 MOHs, and many more DSCs. Of the 11 B-24s of the 345th BS who went that day there were 7 shot down, 2 were damaged so badly they diverted to Sicily, another diverted to Cyprus, and only 1 made it to Tunisia. The shortsnorter has I think 53 names. I've had trouble reading many of them but of the 23 I've been able to make out all were Operation Tidalwave POWs. Lots of heroes on that bill! It also came with a couple Romanian coins and some sort of small tag with NYA 106 that I'd appreciate any help identifying. Hope you all like it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share #2 Posted June 8, 2014 Here's the group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share #3 Posted June 8, 2014 Shortsnorter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted June 8, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted June 8, 2014 back of shortsnorter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patchcollector Posted June 8, 2014 Share #5 Posted June 8, 2014 A great story and a sweet group.Yes,these guys are heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDK Posted June 8, 2014 Share #6 Posted June 8, 2014 Very nice! I love Tidal Wave related items! Thanks for sharing. JD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted June 8, 2014 Share #7 Posted June 8, 2014 Fabulous group! I just love that short snorter, Kurt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gunbunnyB/3/75FA Posted June 9, 2014 Share #8 Posted June 9, 2014 amazing group of guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mghcal Posted June 9, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted June 9, 2014 Glad you liked the group. It's been very interesting researching all these airmen. There's a signature I was researching belonging to right waist gunner/assistant engineer Staff Sergeant Edmond H. Smith B-24 flying on B-24 "Ole Kickapoo" 564th Bomb Sqd, 389th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force. One of the most decorated crews in history, each received the DSC with the exception of Pilot Lloyd Herbert Hughes who received the MOH. Their plane had been hit by many rounds of anti-aircraft fire and had gasoline leaking in the bomb bay tanks and the left wing. Knowing they would catch on fire but not wanting to jeopardize the formation they made their run and emerged from the flames with the left wing on fire, the pilot attempted a crash landing but the wing fell off and the plane cartwheeled into the ground. Only 2 would survive to become POWs, Edmond Smith and tailgunner Thomas Hoff. Here's some of the other heroes signatures on the bill. James J. Sedlack 389th BG Philipp A. Rurack 389th BG Edmond H. Smith 389th BG Fred D. Randall 389th BG Harold T. Goodwin 389th BG John R. Ross 389th BG Early C. Westcott 389th BG Francis W. Doll 93rd BG Jack Reed 93rd BG Leo Sharp 93rd BG William Thompson 376th BG Alexander P. Rockinson 376th BG Paul L. Breedlove 44th BG Russell D. Huntley 44th BG Ray Walaczka 44th BG Clark Fitzpatrick 98th BG Robert Rans 98th BG James E. Turner 98th BG Lil Joe James R. Vest 98th BG Delmar M. Schweigart 98th BG Delbert Warner 98th BG Jack J. Reed 98th BG Robert E. Coleman 98th BG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KASTAUFFER Posted August 1, 2021 Share #10 Posted August 1, 2021 I found some more of his stuff at the SOS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarecrow Posted August 1, 2021 Share #11 Posted August 1, 2021 Great grouping! Thanks for posting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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