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Since others are noting significant anniversaries...
The Tulsamerican, s/n 42-51430, was the last B-24 built at the Douglas-Tulsa plant. Coming off the line in late July 1944, she was ultimately assigned to the 15th Air Force, 461st Bomb Group, 765th Squadron. On December 17, 1944, she flew on her final mission to Odertal to bomb targets there. She along with other B-24s in her group were hit by numerous German fighters, and she managed to limp back all the way to the coast of Croatia. Trying to make an emergency landing strip on the small island of Vis, she lost power to her last 2 engines and crashed in the Adriatic. In doing so, three members of the crew tragically lost their lives- Lt. Eugene Ford, Lt. Russell Landry, and Sgt. Charles Priest. Ford did a heroic job of keeping the airplane in the air long enough to get back to an area where the crew could be rescued by friendly folks. A family in their fishing boat saw the crash and made their way over to rescue the 7 survivors, who were returned to their base in Italy. Today, only one member of that crew survives- Lt. Val Miller of Oklahoma City. Today I am grateful for his service, and for the the dedication of the crew. I am also thankful for the sacrifice of the three men who gave their lives 68 years ago today in defense of our freedom and of our nation. The final resting place of the Tulsamerican has been identified, and in the coming years we hope to be able to bring additional closure to the families.
kevin
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FOUND the elusive DT-built B-24! Woo-hoo!!!
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