63 years ago today, the last B-24 produced at Douglas-Tulsa, the"Tulsamerican", B-24-J-10-DT, s/n 42-51430 crashed into the Adriatic Sea off the coast of Croatia, near the island of Vis. After leading her squadron to bomb Odertal, she staggered back towards home with her hydraulics gone, the bomb bay doors stuck open, fuel leaking and an engine feathered. Her pilot, Eugene Ford, managed to keep her in the air until the final two engines gave out near Vis. From an altitude of 100ft, the Tulsamerican made her final descent into the waters of the Adriatic. 3 men, Lt. Eugene Ford, Lt. Russell Landry, and S/Sgt Charles Priest were killed. 7 men survived, and were rescued by a Croatian fishing family.
Today, just one member of that crew is with us- Lt. Val Miller.
My thanks and prayers are with this brave crew, that valiently did its part to keep us free.
The only known in-flight combat photo of the "Tulsamerican"
[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/TAinflight.jpg[/img]
Some of the Douglas engineers who built the "Tulsamerican"
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The nose art of the "Tulsamerican"
[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/noseart2.jpg[/img]
The ground crew and other Oklahomans posed with the "Tulsamerican"
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Val Miller (left) and John Toney (right), both Oklahomans and both onboard the "Tulsamerican" on her last mission
[img][img]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g204/tulsaboy/MillerandToney.jpg[/img]
Me with Mr. Val Miller, the last surviving crew member of the "Tulsamerican"
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