Ploesti Lib in diarama-type setting

[george]

Believe this is a D. Brought up from under water.
Found it here:

http://worldaffairsboard.com/world-wars ... iders.html

[mustangdriver]

Wow! I never saw this before.

[Russ Matthews]

Thanks for the link. I was aware of "Hadley's Harem," but thought only the forward part of the fuselage had been recovered, as seen here...

http://www.rmk-museum.org.tr/english/exhibit/pop-up/b24_liberator.html

[RMAllnutt]

Judging by the date on that photo... it looks like they went back for more!!! Wow... that's fantastic!

Richard

[Ken]

Mixed emotions on this one. Glad to see it preserved, sad to know it was a tomb for some brave airmen. As long as it's presented with respect and dignity, and an attempt was made to identify/return any remains, then it's okay by me.

[daveymac82c]

I understand the reasons why people don't like anyone disturbing the final resting places of fallen airmen. But, As years go by, the artifacts that tell the story of their tragic deaths are being eaten away and will no longer be around to tell the story.

I believe in most cases it would be better to recover the artifacts and/or wreckage and preserve them in museums or similar institutions. I think that doing so would be a better tribute to the fallen airmen. I feel that the telling of the story is more important than preserving the resting place.

Preserving a resting place doesn't seem important to me if nobody knows about it. Plus, that resting place, especially if underwater, will disappear very quickly through deterioration of the wreckage. Eventually we'll be left with nothing to remind us of what happened there.

In a museum, the artifacts will last for as long they are taken care of; able to tell the story for generation upon generation.

I welcome responses to this post, but I'm not here to argue. I'm just sharing my views on quite a touchy subject. I understand both sides to the topic, but just feel the side I've gone with fulfills my attitudes and beliefs better.

Peace,

David

[Glen]

Pretty much the same thing occurred with the recovery of the American Civil War Ship the CSS Hunley.
She was the first Successful Combat Sub used by the Confederate Navy Sinking at least one US Man of War Before going missing for over 100+ years. After the recovery of the Ship, The Remains of her Crew were given full Military Burial Honors at the National Cemetery.
I to have mix feeling on this as well. I Also Feel that History needs to be saved for Future Generations to SEE not just read about it.

[lmritger]

To the Director, Board, and Trustees of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force-

On 1 August 1943, the USAAC launched "Operation Tidal Wave" from North Africa. 178 Consolidated B-24D Liberators attacked the heavily defended oil production facilities in Ploesti, Rumania, and suffered enormous casualties in the course of the attack. Never before or since in the history of United States aerial operations have so many individual acts of selfless bravery and courage been recognized with the Medal of Honor... no fewer than 5 MOH's were earned by the Ploesti raiders this day. Of the 178 aircraft launched, 54 were lost- a staggering 30% loss rate.

Among the aircraft lost in this historic effort was B-24D 41-24311 "Hadley's Harem" of the 344th BS, 98th BG. The aircraft was heavily damaged by flak over the Astro Romana facility, with bombardier Leon Storms being killed instantly. The pilots Gilbert Hadley and James Lindsay initiated evasive maneuvers while the flight engineer/top turret gunner Russell Page salvoed the bomb load. They initially set a course to return to Benghazi but quickly realized the aircraft would not carry them that far, so they set a course for Cyprus via Turkey. While over Turkey, however, the remaining engines all began to fail, so Hadley elected to ditch the aircraft just offshore in order to give the crew the best chance of survival. This decision proved to be fatal for both Hadley and Lindsay, as the aircraft broke apart upon contact with the water and quickly sank.

Fifty-two years later, the remains of "Hadley's Harem" and two of her fallen crew were located and recovered from the sea floor off the coast of Turkey, and brought ashore. The aircraft is currently displayed under partial cover in Istanbul at the Rahni M Koc Museum.

Ladies and gentlemen, as the sole known remaining B-24 which took part in the most savage air battle ever fought by the men of the US Army Air Corps, I humbly submit that this aircraft deserves a place of highest honor within the National Museum of the United States Air Force. No price can be too high to bring this aircraft home and enshrine her where she belongs, with ample thanks and credit to the people of Turkey who cared for her survivors and recovered the remains of her fallen crew, along with recovering the aircraft itself.

"Hadley's Harem" stands as an immensely powerful memorial to the bloodiest American air battle ever fought, and I respectfully request that the Director, Board and all those involved in positions of responsibility within the NMUSAF make every possible effort to bring this incredibly historic and significant relic back home.

Sincerely,

Lynn Ritger

[the330thbg]

Awesome!!!

[mustangdriver]

That is an awesome and very well written letter. I would love to see it happen. I wish that the Yankee Air Museum would have a museum building up, and that the NMUSAF would get the plane and then place it on long term loan to them. A huge thank you to the people that ahve it now. They recovered it and the crew, and treated all with respect. That is something very special.

[Pat Carry]

To the Director, Board, and Trustees of the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force-

On 1 August 1943, the USAAC launched "Operation Tidal Wave" from North Africa. 178 Consolidated B-24D Liberators attacked the heavily defended oil production facilities in Ploesti, Rumania, and suffered enormous casualties in the course of the attack. Never before or since in the history of United States aerial operations have so many individual acts of selfless bravery and courage been recognized with the Medal of Honor... no fewer than 5 MOH's were earned by the Ploesti raiders this day. Of the 178 aircraft launched, 54 were lost- a staggering 30% loss rate.

Among the aircraft lost in this historic effort was B-24D 41-24311 "Hadley's Harem" of the 344th BS, 98th BG. The aircraft was heavily damaged by flak over the Astro Romana facility, with bombardier Leon Storms being killed instantly. The pilots Gilbert Hadley and James Lindsay initiated evasive maneuvers while the flight engineer/top turret gunner Russell Page salvoed the bomb load. They initially set a course to return to Benghazi but quickly realized the aircraft would not carry them that far, so they set a course for Cyprus via Turkey. While over Turkey, however, the remaining engines all began to fail, so Hadley elected to ditch the aircraft just offshore in order to give the crew the best chance of survival. This decision proved to be fatal for both Hadley and Lindsay, as the aircraft broke apart upon contact with the water and quickly sank.

Fifty-two years later, the remains of "Hadley's Harem" and two of her fallen crew were located and recovered from the sea floor off the coast of Turkey, and brought ashore. The aircraft is currently displayed under partial cover in Istanbul at the Rahni M Koc Museum.

Ladies and gentlemen, as the sole known remaining B-24 which took part in the most savage air battle ever fought by the men of the US Army Air Corps, I humbly submit that this aircraft deserves a place of highest honor within the National Museum of the United States Air Force. No price can be too high to bring this aircraft home and enshrine her where she belongs, with ample thanks and credit to the people of Turkey who cared for her survivors and recovered the remains of her fallen crew, along with recovering the aircraft itself.

"Hadley's Harem" stands as an immensely powerful memorial to the bloodiest American air battle ever fought, and I respectfully request that the Director, Board and all those involved in positions of responsibility within the NMUSAF make every possible effort to bring this incredibly historic and significant relic back home.

Sincerely,

Lynn Ritger

Very interesting for sure. I assume the 2 recovered crewmen were returned to the US. Most definately this great piece of history needs to be brought home to the US.

[Pat Carry]

That is an awesome and very well written letter. I would love to see it happen. I wish that the Yankee Air Museum would have a museum building up, and that the NMUSAF would get the plane and then place it on long term loan to them. A huge thank you to the people that ahve it now. They recovered it and the crew, and treated all with respect. That is something very special.

Chris, I believe this plane deserves a place of honor in the NMUSAF. I cant see it going any other place.

[Django]

I didn't realize that much of it was recovered either! Wow!

Found another pic of the cockpit on Airliners. http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... id=0675451

And here is another shot under the tent of the engines.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V38_DU8odi0/S ... C_0170.jpg

This thread has a detail shot of the the port window, the cockpit and some items on display.
http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.aspx? ... em&mpage=1

From B24bestweb. They say the 2 crew men were recovered in '95.



I'd love to see it at Dayton (or even YAM) but... How do you tell another museum they don't "deserve" one of their artifacts?

Last edited by Django on Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:19 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Pat Carry]

I didn't realize that much of it was recovered either! Wow!

Found another pic of the cockpit on Airliners. http://www.airliners.net/photo/USA---Ai ... id=0675451

And here is another shot under the tent of the engines.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_V38_DU8odi0/S ... C_0170.jpg

From B24bestweb. They say the 2 crew men were recovered in '95.



I'd love to see it at Dayton (or even YAM) but... How do you tell another museum they don't "deserve" one of their artifacts?

Great photo. The plane doesnt seem to be in bad shape other than it being in several pieces.

[Pat Carry]

That is an awesome and very well written letter. I would love to see it happen. I wish that the Yankee Air Museum would have a museum building up, and that the NMUSAF would get the plane and then place it on long term loan to them. A huge thank you to the people that ahve it now. They recovered it and the crew, and treated all with respect. That is something very special.

Chris, Do you know of any talk or plans there at the museum of actually bringing the B-24 to the states?