41-29559 Belchin’ Bessie

B-24H-15-CF

A 34^th BG Original.

Flown to England by the Alexander crew with T/SGT Wesley E Franklin, 17043375 as passenger.

MISSION LIST

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 41-29559 E/P 18BS Harris

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Smith, J. C.

Mission #35 July 14, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 41-29559 E/P 4BS Alexander

Mission #37 July 18, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #38 July 19, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #39 July 20, 1944 41-29559 E/P Swenson  (Airborne spare)

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #42 July 25, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Whited

Mission #52 August 5, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 41-29559 E/P Harris, R. N.  (Airborne spare)

Mission #55 August 8, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander

Mission #57 August 11, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander  (Crashed on take off – Salvaged.)

MISSION DETAILS

April 13, 1944 41-29559 Alexander

Special Order 1100; Headquarters Station #11; Caribean Wing, ATC; Morrison Field; West Palm Beach, Florida.

Subject: Movement Orders, Flight Echelons, Shipment 5464.

B-24 41-29559 5464-CZ48

1 Lt Shelby T. Alexander O-726544 (P)

2 Lt Edward R. Carlson O-818594 (CP)

2 Lt Wayne L. Jorgenson O-703267 (N)

2 Lt Patrick J. McKeon O-698025 (B)

S/Sgt Wayne E. Howarter 39279107 (AEMG)

S/Sgt Herold G. Owens 34686585 (ROMG)

Sgt William W. Seifert 32850670 (AG)

Sgt Harold C. Rutka 17050426 (CG)

Sgt Grady C. Deatherage, Jr. 33526000 (CG)

T/Sgt Wesley E. Franklin 17043375 (X) Non-combat crewmember. Assigned shipment DZ.

Mission #1 May 23, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0536 hours from Hardstand #3.

Flew position 4-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb bombs. Made a run at 0856 hours but did not drop bombs. Brought all bombs back to base.

"Low squadron hit target on 1st & 2nd buildings."

No damage reported.

Landed 1203 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

(NOTE: Navigator Jorgenson flew with crew #27 McAllister)

May 24, 1944 41-29559 E/P

On 34BG Marshalling Chart on Hardstand #3B at 2140 hours.

May 25, 1944 41-29559 E/P Alexander

Took off at 1333 hours on a local flight.

Landed 1400 hours.

Mission #4 May 27, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0851 hours.

Flew position 4-1 in Low Squadron.

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

No damage reported.

Landed 1554 hours.

#1 Generator out. Inspected and replaced.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Swanson (N) (from crew #31)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Lucyk (NG)

Deatherage (BG)

Rutka (TG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #6 May 29, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0733 hours from Hardstand #3.

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1234 hours from 22,000 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 1647 hours.

Slight Flak damage. Fuselage, right side; left wing leading edge; left vertical stab.; fuel cell #4; left wing tip.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Joegenson (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarter (E)

Lucyk (NG)

Deatherage (BG)

Rutka (TG)

Seifert (G)

May 31, 1944 41-29559 E/P Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 1714 hours.

Landed 1732 hours.

Mission #11 June 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0610 hours from Hardstand #19.

Flew position 1-3 in Lead Squadron.

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

No damage reported.

Landed 1231 hours.

Alexander, S. T. (P)

Carlson, E. R. (CP)

McKeon, P. J. (B)

Howater, W. E. (E)

Owens, H. C. (R)

Seifert, W. W. (AG)

Deatherage, G. C. (G)

Rutka, H. C. (G)

Lucyk, P. (G)

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 1706 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in High Squadron.

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

Aborted due to weather. Could not find the formation.

No damage report.

Landed 1902 hours at A.B.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

McKeon (B)

Holwater (E)

Owens (R)

Siefert (G)

Deatherage (G)

Rutka (G)

Lucyk (G)

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 41-29559 E/P 18BS Harris Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 1709 hours.

Flew position 4-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. No drop report due to landing away from the base.

Landed at Chilbilton.

Harris (P)

Casey (CP)

Smith, R. (N)

Kovach (B)

Willoughby (R)

Burns (E)

Martinelli (G)

Lower (G)

Holt (G)

Whitaker (G)

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Smith, J. C.

Took off at 1037 hours.

Flew position 2-1 in Lead Squadron, C Group.

Landed 1606 hours.

Smith, J. C. (P)

Lupei (CP)

Pacholski (N)

Muente (B)

Workman (R)

Hiltner (E)

Mink (BG)

Hall (TG)

Morrison (NG)

Troup (WG)

Mission #35 July 14, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 1631 hours.

Flew position 1-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 2019 hours from 21,550 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 2218 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 41-29559 E/P 4BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0635 hours.

Flew position 1-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 5 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1053 hours from 20,500 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1303 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

July 17, 1944 41-29559 E/P Zarfoss

Took off at 1805 hours on a local flight.

Landed 2059 hours.

Mission #37 July 18, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0527 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb Fragmentation bombs. Dropped on Primary at 0836 hours from 17,400 feet.

No battle damaged reported.

Landed 1024 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #38 July 19, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0559 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb GP lb bombs. Dropped on the Secondary at 0958 hours from 22,000 feet.

Slight flak damage.

Landed 1144 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #39 July 20, 1944 41-29559 E/P Swenson Belchin’ Bessie (Airborne spare)

Did not take off.

Crew loading list not available.

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0622 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in Low Squadron.

Carried 10 500 lb bombs. Dropped on unidentified marshalling yards at 1050 hours from 23,000 feet, reporting hits on the tracks.

Landed 1310 hours.

#3 supercharger inoperative. Inspected and repaired.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0950 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb fragmentation bombs. Brought all bombs back to base due to 10/10 cloud over target area.

Landed 1512 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #42 July 25, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0741 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb fragmentation bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1037 hours from 12,000 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1242 hours.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Rutka (BG)

Deatherage (TG)

Lucyk (NG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Whited Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0532 hours.

Flew position 2-3 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 6 1000 lb bombs. Dropped on Primary at 0828 hours from 21,100 feet.

Major battle damage reported.

Landed 1005 hours.

Whited (P)

Garrettson (CP)

Griess (N) (a write-in)

Ingram (B)

Tanking (R)

Revander (E)

Garman (BG)

Higgason (TG)

Mathieu (NG)

Moyer (G)

Mission #52 August 5, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 0819 hours.

Flew position 3-1 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Primary at 1247 hours from 23,500 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1441 hours.

#4 carburetor air temperature gauge inoperative. Inspected and repaired.

Alexander (P)

Carlson (CP)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Lucyk (NG)

Rutka (BG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

No time recorded on the take off and landing sheet.

Flew 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb GP bombs. Brought all bombs back to base due to bad weather.

No damage reported.

No crew loading list available.

Mission #54 August 7, 1944 41-29559 E/P Harris, R. N. Belchin’ Bessie (Airborne spare)

No time recorded on the take off and landing sheet.

Flew as Airborne spare but flew the mission, filling a gap in the Low Squadron.

Carried 20 250 lb bombs. Brought all bombs back to base due to 10/10 cloud over the target.

No damage reported.

Credit with a sortie.

Harris, R. N. (P)

Black (CP)

Babcock (N)

Buchan (B)

Klenanoff (R)

Hudson (E)

Moss (NG)

Mixon (BG)

Smith, J. S. (G)

Mission #55 August 8, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Took off at 1010 hours.

Flew Deputy Lead, position 1-2 in 34B Group, Low Section.

Carried 12 250 lb long delay fuse bombs, 6 - 6 hour and 6 - 24 hour delay. Dropped on the Primary at 1306:30 hours from 21,550 feet.

No damage reported.

Landed 1424 hours.

Alexander (P)

Granger (CP) (a write-in)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Deatherage (TG)

Rutka (BG)

Seifert (G)

Mission #57 August 11, 1944 41-29559 E/P 7BS Alexander Belchin’ Bessie

Was to fly position 3-1 in Lead Squadron.

Carried 52 100 lb bombs. Fortunately any fire was quickly extinguished and the bombs safely removed.

Crashed on take off at 0852 hours. (0852 DBST, according to the accident report)

The accident report is in the mission folder.

Alexander (P)

Raver (CP) (a write-in)

Gross (N)

McKeon (B)

Owens (R)

Howarters (E)

Lucyk (NG)

Rutka (BG)

Seifert (G)

B-24H 41-29559 E/P “Belchin’ Bessie” Failed to lift off the runway. Fortunately what fire there was extinguished quickly and all of the bombs were safely removed. With 7BS. Pilot: Alexander. Crew OK. Salvaged with non-battle damage.

RTD ALEXANDER SHELBY T (P)                   1 LT            7          O-726544

RTD RAVER JACOB T (CP)                              2 LT            7          O-767647

RTD GROSS ROBERT H (N)                              2 LT            7          O-703628        Minor injuries

RTD McKEON PATRICK J (B)                         2 LT            7          O-698025

RTD HOWARTERS WAYNE E (E)                  T/SGT        7          39279107

RTD OWENS HAROLD G (R)                           T/SGT        7          34686585

RTD LUCYK PETER (G)                                     S/SGT         7          33674674        Minor injuries

RTD SEIFERT WILLIAM W (G)                       S/SGT         7          32850670

RTD RUTKA HAROLD C (G)                            S/SGT         7          17050426