"On the morning of September 13, 1944, 2nd Lt. Edward J Botteen and his crew boarded B-24H 42-52283, a distinguished combat veteran of the 455th BG, affectionately known as "PITHONU CENSORED." The aircraft joined 29 others in formation and proceeded towards Germany with the mission to bomb the Odertal Oil Refinery.
Approximately thirty minutes from the target, #283 experienced a mechanical failure, resulting in the loss of its first engine. The crew was forced to jettison their bomb load in an attempt to stay with the formation, however any hopes of that were gone when a second engine failed shortly after. With engines one and three feathered, the crew turned for home, and eventually abandoned the aircraft at approximately 6,500'. Out of the ten crew members on board, eight evaded capture and successfully returned to Allied lines. Unfortunately, Sgt. Harry Eddy, the crew's radio operator, was killed when he fell from his parachute harness. Sgt. Benedict Raczka, the left waist gunner, was captured and became a POW. PITHONU found her final resting place near Sobotište, Slovakia".
The MACR reports stated that when #283 had to jettison their payload, they dropped the bombs through the bomb bay doors for some reason! This is most likely due to the loss of hydraulics when engine 3 failed.
The turret is partially retracted to show that the ball turret gunner had left the turret to prepare to bail out.
Artist: Piotr Forkasiewicz
'PITHONU CENSORED' was a B-24H-10-FO that came off Ford's assembly lines at Willow Run. The Liberator in the foreground, 'SPECIAL DELIVERY III' was a B-24-10-FO, serial number 42-52239. She also came off Ford's assembly lines at Willow Run. The ship in the background is "GOOD HEAVENS'. She was as B-24J-195-CO, serial number 44-41146. She came off Consolidated's assembly lines at San Diego.
MISSION BRIEFING No. 116
September 13, 1944
Oil Refinery at Odertal, Germany
After the staggering losses on the previous mission, the 455th would be hit hard yet again as the 30 B-24s pressed their attacks against the oil industry, bombing by pathfinder. Flak was described as moderate to intense, but accurate enough to wreck havoc, claiming 2 of the groups original ships and crippling an additional 2.
- B-24H 42-52283 “1,000th LIBERATOR/
PITHONU”
Botteen (743)/MACR 8357
All 10 crew bailed out, but radio operator
slipped from his harness. 1 POW.
- B-24H 42-52239 “SPECIAL DELIVERY III”
Powell (740)/MACR 8349
All 9 crew became POWs.
- B-24G 42-78200 “OH! MY AKIN”
Wrightson (742)/AR 45-9-13-508
Upon return, and out of gas, the ship crash
landed in a field near 742nd area. All crew
survived. Aircraft was destroyed.
- B-24H 42-52270 “FEARLESS FIFINELLA”
Crosby (740)
Crew landed at Vis Island. Would not fly again.
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