Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
There was a spectacular photo of a B-24 flaming out of formation (with its wing coming off?) that had been shot down by a Luftwaffe Bf-109 during the famous 1 Aug 43 strike on Ploesti. This was one of the few Luftwaffe victories in that disastrous stike –most of 55 losses due to Flak. Does anyone know who the victor/victims were? Can anyone post or put up a link?
Thanks, Rob Romero |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
Are you talking about Eager Eagles, flown by Lt. Lloyd Hughes of the 398th BG? This a/c bombed its target in spite of being hit in the wing tanks by flak (not fighters) and having flames trailing. After coming off target Hughes put it down in a dry creek bed but ground-looped and exploded. In site of this 3 people survived. There is a series of photos in Black Sunday: Ploesti, an excellant history of the mission.
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Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
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...according to the JG 4 history, I./JG 4 made at least a dozen claims, IV./JG 27 four claims and another twelve or so claims were filed by Rumanian and Bulgarian pilots.. http://members.aol.com/falkeeins (updated today) |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
John,
No, IIRC the B-24 was shot out of formation over the sea. The photo was published in Ploesti Raid Book -don't remember which one. FalkeEins, OK. one of the relatively few Luftwaffe victories that day -the preponderance were still brought down by flak. Thanks, Rob |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
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If you can reference the photo we might be able to ID the ship. The references I have, have no photos that match your description. |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
Rob - sounds like: 6 /16 / 44 Mission to Apollo Oil Refinery.
376th BG B-24 collided with ME - 109 . B - 24s right wing torn off , ball of fire , then exploded. ??????? Mike |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
John,
Sorry, the only thing I can say is that the photo was in what I imagine was one of the earlier books on Ploest -perhaps 60s-70s. I saw it in a school library in the late 80s IIRC. Thanks, Rob |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
I think this might be the photo you're looking for. It is in Ploesti - The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 by Dugan and Stewart, the classic account of Tidal Wave, first published in 1962.
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Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
Thanks fsbofk!
I knew someone would pull through! Rob |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
Rob and fsbosk:
In the 1998 edition of PLOESTI, Stewart is the sole list for the copyright. Dugan died in 1967. In the unpaginated photo section, the above photo has a different caption and is identified As Ralph McBride's Here's to Ya. No crew survived. Evidentally some changes in the 1998 edition were made to the original edition's caption. In Michael Hill's BLACK SUNDAY, published in 1993, the incident is mentioned as McBride's Here's To Ya being shot down by fighters over the Ionian Sea and no one saw any chutes. The aircraft was from the 93rd BG. Hill states in an appendix that there is no definitive, official list of aircraft and crew from the mission. He, with the help of researchers, put together the list of planes and crews in the appendix. Strangely, McBride is not listed in that appendix, but is listed in the flight positions illustration for the 93rd. |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
You may be talking about this photo:
www.rajordan.com/pete/images/19430801-02.JPG and this one: www.rajordan.com/pete/images/19430801-03.JPG You may have to click on the image to make it bigger depending on your browser. These photos were taken by Earl Zimmerman. The plane was flown by my uncle, 2nd Lt. Lloyd Herbert Hughes, known to family and friends as Pete. His widow received Pete's Medal of Honor for what he went through that day. Information has come to light only fairly recently saying that the plane he flew was really nicknamed "Ole Kickapoo," tail fin number 40753J. There is even a photo of the wreckage clearly showing the tail fin: www.rajordan.com/pete/images/19430815--1.jpg Feel free to peruse my uncle's memorial website with the timeline of his short life - he was just over 22 years old when he died on 1 Aug 1943 - with photos and scans of various documents: www.rajordan.com/pete |
Re: Ploesti Air Combat Photo?
Oh, and in the Ploesti; The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943 book by James Dugan and Carroll Stewart, Lloyd Herbert Hughes is erroneously referred to as "Lloyd D. Hughes."
Hughes' Statement of Military Service: www.rajordan.com/pete/19590529-service.html and his grave marker: www.rajordan.com/pete/images/19500412-05.jpg |
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