41-28865 Loni (League of Nations, Inc.)

B-24H-15-DT

 

A 34th BG Original.

 

This plane was CAM and had grayed out stars.

 

Might have been originally named The Wrangler. The available photo of this plane does not show a name on the co-pilot side.  The McDermott crew's second regular plane was The Wrangler, 42-51209, for which there is ample photographic evidence. As their first plane, 41-28865 might also have originally carried that name.

 

See photo in Helton’s Hellcats, p.48.

 

MISSION LIST

 

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 41-28865 E/R 391BS Meyer   Failed to bomb.

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott 

 

Transferred to 493 BG

Transferred to 93BG

 

 

MISSION DETAILS

 

                     May 18, 1944 41-28865 McDermott              Training flight

Took off 1:15 late due to taxing off hardstand into mud.

 

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Took off at 0532 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 2-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 11 500 lb bombs. Made runs at 0837 hours and 0912 hours but did not drop bombs. Brought back 11 bombs (all that was loaded).

"Lead bomber didn't drop. Slight haze but target easily identified. Other Wing targets badly damaged."

No damage reported.

Landed 1202.

Controls tight. Inspected and repaired.

McDermott (P)

Durratt (CP)

Booth (N)

Ferguson (B)

Roberts (R)

Welch (E)

Palmer (BG)

Hudson (TG)

Brauks (NG)

Wingfield (G)

 

Mission #3 May 25, 1944 41-28865 E/R 391BS Meyer   Failed to bomb.

Took off at 0519 hours.

Flew position 3-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1059 hours.

Bombay doors failed to operate. Was off course on run.

Meyer, C. R. (P)

Haggins, E. C. (CP)

Sawtell, R. R. (B)

Jerome, L. W. (R)

Krull, F. J. (E)

Proctor, I. M. (BG)

Harris, A. C. (TG)

Harju, A. (NG)

Reissen, M. T. (G)

 

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Took off at 0853 hours.

Flew position 4-3 in Low Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb M47-A bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1546 hours.

McDermott (P)

Durratt (CP)

Booth (N)

Roberts (R)

Welch (E)

Brauks (NG)

Hudson (BG)

Palmer (TG)

Wingfield (G)

Tymczyszyng (G) (from crew #24)

 

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott

Took off at 1042 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 3-3 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1502 hours from 20,500 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1751 hours.

McDermott (P)

Durratt (CP)

Booth (N)

Roberts (R)

Welch (E/LW)

Brauks (NG)

Hudson (TG)

Palmer (BG)

Wingfield (TT)

 

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28865 E/R 7BS McDermott       

Took off at 0734 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 2-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1233 hours from 22,000 feet.

Slight flak damage to #3 engine cowling.    

Landed 1647 hours.

McDermott (P)

Durratt (CP)

Booth (N)

Roberts (R)

Welch (E/LW)

Brauks (NG)

Hudson (BG)

Palmer (TG)

Wingfield (TT)

    

                      May 30, 1944 41-28865 E/R Eastman

Took off at 1753 on a flight to Debach.

Plane transferred to Debach.

No landing time given.

 

Transferred to 493 BG

 

Transferred to 93BG

 

May 1945 returned to the USA.