Operation Tidal Wave:389th BG
For
Operation Tidal Wave the 389th BG were the new kids on the block. They arrived
in England only days before shipping out to North Africa to prepare for the Ploesti
mission. During the first half of July 1943 the group flew six combat missions from
Bengasi against targets in Crete, Italy, and Sicily. These missions were in support of the Allied
landings on Sicily on July 10th. After the July 19th mission against
Rome, the group was pulled from flying combat and began practicing for the Ploesti
mission. The 389th BG drew the Steaua Romana oil refinery, in the town of
Campina, as their target. It was believed to be an easier target, but it was also the furthest
target from Bengasi. On the morning of August 1, 1943, twenty-nine 389th BG
aircraft took to the air carrying 292 aircrew. All twenty-nine reached the target area,
and the Steaua Romana refinery was put out of commission for six months. However, four
aircraft were shot down near the target area, and two more limped into neutral Turkey
where they were interned. The cost of knocking out Steaua Romana was high that day.
Nineteen men were killed, twenty-three were taken prisoner, and nineteen were interned in
Turkey. In addition, approximately 62 other 389th BG aircrew flew on 98th BG aircraft
for this maximum effort mission. Of these men, eleven were killed, ten captured, and four
fled to Yugoslavia where they met up with Tito's resistance movement.
389th BG August 1, 1943 Crews and
Aircraft
# |
Sqdn |
Serial Number |
A/C Photo |
Sortie Report |
Nickname |
Pilot |
Fate |
1 |
564 |
42-40753 J |
 |
 |
------- |
Hughes |
FTR --AA before target. CL after target. 8 KIA, 2 POW. Hughes received
MOH, the remaining crew received the DSC. |
2 |
564 |
42-40767
G |
 |
None |
THE
BAD PENNY |
Lighter |
Mechanical
problems, unable to take off. |
3 |
564 |
42-40772
C |
 |
 |
SCHEHEREZADE |
Blackis |
Returned
to Bengasi |
4 |
564 |
42-40773
I |
 |
 |
------- |
Fowble |
Returned to
Bengasi.
(Maj. Ardery) |
5 |
564 |
42-40746
B |
 |
 |
WOLF
WAGON |
McLaughlin |
Returned
to Bengasi |
6 |
564 |
42-40776
H |
 |
 |
OLD
BLISTER BUTT |
Wright |
Returned
to Bengasi |
7 |
564 |
42-40803
F |
 |
 |
------- |
Smith |
Returned
to Bengasi |
8 |
565 |
41-23933
Z |
 |
|
SWEET
ADELINE II |
Podolak |
Diverted
to Cyprus |
9 |
565 |
42-40629
N |
 |
|
THE SCORPION |
Caldwell |
Lead
Ship (Col. Wood). Returned to Bengasi |
10 |
565 |
42-40716
R |
No Picture |
|
YOURS
TRULY |
Rodenberg |
Returned
to Bengasi |
11 |
565 |
42-40744 S |
No Picture |
|
------- |
James |
FTR -- Diverted to Turkey. 10 Interned. |
12 |
565 |
42-40749
P |
 |
|
SACK
TIME SALLY |
Braly |
Returned
to Bengasi |
13 |
565 |
42-40775
Y |
 |
|
WOLF
WAGON |
Matson |
Returned
to Bengasi |
14 |
565 |
42-40787
V |
 |
|
VAGABOND
KING |
McCormick |
Diverted
to Cyprus |
15 |
565 |
42-40795
X |
 |
|
-----------------
(later THE
GOLDEN SANDSTORM) |
Tolleson |
Returned
to Bengasi |
16 |
566 |
42-40115 A- |
 |
|
BOOMERANG |
Neef |
FTR -- (Maj. Yeager) CL after target. 11 POW |
17 |
566 |
42-40623
I- |
No Picture |
|
------- |
Westerbeke |
Diverted
to Malta |
18 |
566 |
42-40706
F- |
 |
|
TONDELAO |
Whitener |
Returned
to Bengasi |
19 |
566 |
42-40722
B- |
 |
|
THE
LITTLE GRAMPER |
Dieterle |
Returned
to Bengasi |
20 |
566 |
42-40735 C- |
No Picture |
|
SAND WITCH |
Horton |
FTR -- AA over the target. CL after target. 9 KIA, 1 POW -- All get DSC |
21 |
566 |
42-40738
J- |
 |
|
OKLAHOMAN |
Conroy |
Diverted
to Malta |
22 |
567 |
42-40544 R- |
No Picture |
|
HITLERS HEARSE |
Mooney |
FTR -- Diverted to Turkey. Mooney KIA, DSC. 9 Interned. |
23 |
567 |
42-40619
N- |
 |
|
------- |
Ward |
(Maj.
Brooks) -- Returned via direct route |
24 |
567 |
42-40733
V- |
 |
|
------- |
Gerrick |
Returned
to Bengasi |
25 |
567 |
42-40743
O- |
 |
|
------- |
Sisson |
Returned
via direct route |
26 |
567 |
42-40747
S- |
 |
|
------- |
Selvidge |
Returned
to Bengasi |
27 |
567 |
42-40751
Y- |
 |
|
-------
(later Touch of Texas) |
Denton |
Returned
to Bengasi |
28 |
567 |
42-40782 X- |
 |
|
CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO |
O'Reilly |
FTR -- CL after target. 1 KIA, 9 POW |
29 |
567 |
42-40793
H- |
 |
|
BLONDS
AWAY |
Nading |
Diverted
to Cyprus |
30 |
567 |
42-40807
U- |
 |
|
------- |
Spurrier |
Bird
strike damaged right wing tip -- Returned via direct route |
98th BG Aircraft with 389th
BG Air Crew aboard:
|
Group |
Serial Number |
A/C Photo |
Nickname |
Pilot |
Fate |
98th
BG |
41-11817
H |
 |
STINGER |
Opsata |
Returned to Bengasi
– 1 WIA |
98th
BG |
41-11815
G |
 |
DAISY
MAE |
L.
Ellis |
Returned to Bengasi |
98th BG |
41-11776 O |
 |
JERSEY JACKASS/BASHFUL |
McGraw |
CL
over target – 8 KIA, 2 POW |
98th BG |
41-11840 P |
 |
THE WITCH |
Darlington |
CL
after target – 6 POW, 4 EVD |
98th BG |
42-40316 X |
No Picture |
SNAKE EYES |
Blevins (98th) |
CL at
Sicily – 1 KIA, 1 WIA |
98th BG |
42-40655 S |
No Picture |
FOUR EYES |
Hadock (98th) |
FTR --
9 KIA (2 from 389th BG) |
98th
BG |
42-40973
Z |
No Picture |
BATTLEAXE |
Salyer |
Returned to Bengasi |
98th
BG |
41-11774
O |
 |
CHIEF |
Fravega
|
Diverted to Sicily |
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