41-28877 Sooner

B-24H-15-DT

A 34^th BG Original.

Name was Sooner according to Gardner crewmember Fred Tunnell who says he painted that name on this plane.

This plane has been incorrectly refered to as “Fast Company” but photos show that “Fast Company” was a silver B-24J, not an H.

MISSION LIST

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. 

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. T.

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H.

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 41-28877 E/I 18BS Gardner

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Alexander

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H.

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H.

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H.

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 41-28877 E/I Gardner, H.

July 10, 1944 41-28877 E/I salvaged with battle damaged

MISSION DETAILS

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0533 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 7 500 lb bombs. Brought 7 bombs back to base (was supposed to have 12 bombs but only 7 were loaded)

No damage reported.

Landed 1157.

#3 and #4 engine RPM fluctuating, Tachometer out. Inspected and repaired.

Gardner (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppelman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

Leach (BG)

Smart (TG)

McDonough (NG)

Locklear (G)

Mission #2 May 24, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. T. Sooner

Took off at 0504 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 4-1 in Lead Squadron, but went over the target in position 3-2 after Hayes and Tuttle aborted.

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

Landed 1040 hours.

#4 tachometer out. Inspected and repaired.

Gardner, H. T. (P)

Maxwell, L. H. (CP)

Koppelman, R. C. (N)

Pugh, W. (B)

Tunnell, F. J. (R)

Gray, H. F. (E)

McDonough, E. T. (NG)

Smart, M. R. (TG)

Leach, L. W. (BG)

Locklear, P. L. (G)

Mission #5 May 28, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 1041 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 3-2 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1500 hours from 21,200 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1753 hours.

Leak in oxygen regulator. Inspected and repaired.

Gardner (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppelman (N)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

McDonough (NG)

Smart (BG)

Leach (TG)

Locklear (G)

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0735 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1233 hours from 22,300 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1641 hours.

Gardner (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppelman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

McDonough (NG)

Smart (BG)

Leach (TG)

Locklear (G)

Mission #8 May 31, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0801 hours.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

The mission was Recalled.

Landed 1235 hours.

#1 Cylinder head temperature low. Inspected and repaired.

Gardner (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppelman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

McDonough (NG)

Smart (BG)

Leach (TG)

Locklear (G)

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. Sooner

Took off at 0621 hours from Hardstand #6.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Due to 10/10 clouds, brought all bombs back to base.

No damage reported.

Landed 1220 hours.

Gardner, H. T. (P)

Maxwell, L. H. (CP)

Pugh, W. (B)

Gray, H. F. (E)

Tunnell, E. J. (R)

Locklear, P. L. (G)

Smart, M. R. (G)

McDonough (G)

Leach, L. W. (G)

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 41-28877 E/I 18BS Gardner Sooner

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0444 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb delayed action bombs. Jettisoned all bombs.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1037 hours.

Gardner, H (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

Leach (G)

Smart (G)

McDonough (G)

Locklear (G)

Mission #15 June 12, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0509 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried a K-24 camera.

Carried 24 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0911 hours from 22,100 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1101 hours.

Gardner, H (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

Leach (G)

Smart (G)

McDonough (G)

Locklear (G)

Litsey (Photographer)

Mission #16 June 14, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0330 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 20 100 lb bombs. Dropped on other target at 0808 hours from 19,000 feet.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 0934 hours.

Gardner, H (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppleman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray (E)

Leach (G)

Smart (G)

McDonough (G)

Lockleer (G)

Mission #17 June 17, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Alexander Sooner

Took off at 1646 hours.

Flew position 4-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2023 hours from 18,300 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 2249 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Rutka (G)

Deatherage (G)

Lucyek (G)

Seifert (G)

Mission #18 June 20, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. Sooner

Took off at 0505 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried a K-20 camera.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0915 hours from 22,200 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1121 hours.

Gardner, H. (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppleman (N)

Tunnell (R)

Gray (E)

Leach (G)

Graff (G) (from Crew #27)

Lockleer (G)

McDonough (G)

Mission #19 June 20, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 1744 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Group A (7th).

Carried 52 100 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2054 hours from 22,800 feet.

Slight battle damage reported.

Landed 2208 hours.

No Crew Loading List available.

Mission #20 June 22, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. Sooner

Took off at 1455 hours.

Flew position 4-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1915 hours from 19,800 feet.

Major damage reported.

Landed 2155 hours.

Gardner, H. (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppleman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray, H. (E)

Leach (BG)

Smart (TG)

McDonough (BG)

Lockleer (G)

Mission #28 June 29, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. Sooner

Took off at 0519 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Landed 1219 hours.

#4 engine failure. Inspected and changing engine.

Gardner, H (P)

Maxwell (CP)

Koppleman (N)

Pugh (B)

Tunnell (R)

Gray (E)

Leach (BG)

Smart (TG)

McDonough (BG)

Lockleer (G)

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner Sooner

Took off at 0418 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 0801/30 hours from 22,500 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 0904 hours.

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 41-28877 E/I 7BS Gardner, H. Sooner

Took off at 1013 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron, C Group.

Landed 1538 hours.

Sufered a landing accident at Mendlesham, damage level 4 out of 5. Plane salvaged.

Accident report gives time of accident as 1330 hours.

Damage included three holes in fuselage right side at stations 7.1 - 9.0 and buckling of the fuselage in the affected area. Belt frames and stringers torn and bent from stations 7.1 - 9.0. Section flooring damaged from station 7.0-7.9. Electric wiring and trim tab cables damaged. Tail turret communication boxes crushed. Right waist gunners heated clothing rheostat crushed. "During landing run, airplane ran off the right about three-fourths distance down the runway striking cletrac with #4 prop and right rear fuselage and came to a stop about 50 feet from, and in line with the end of the runway."

Gardner, H. T. (P)

July 10, 1944 41-28877 E/I salvaged with battle damaged