B-24M - "Top of the Mark"
Tue May 24, 2016 9:20 pm
Wondering if any of our photo gurus have a pic of this plane: B-24M "Top of The Mark". It would have been 308th BG / 373rd BS. Flown by crew 083...
2Lt. Podgurski, Henry A,. 1092 02044956
Sgt Clark, John V. 748, 35309948
2Lt. Corson, Edward M. 1035, 0722704
2Lt. Allan, Robert M. 0142, 0929245
2Lt. Bentley, Colin 1034 02060460
Sgt. D’Ambrosio, Michael V. 757 12151037
Sgt. Erickson, Charles L. 612, 37345112
2Lt. Fidan, Charles J 1092, 0821963
Podgurski was the pilot. If his name seems a bit familiar to the B-24 scholars, it should. He was the co-pilot on the "Liberty Lad" 93rd BG / 409th BS on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. "Liberty Lad" was the last B-24 to successfully return to its home base after the raid, having flown most of the way home with two engines out on the right side.
2Lt. Podgurski, Henry A,. 1092 02044956
Sgt Clark, John V. 748, 35309948
2Lt. Corson, Edward M. 1035, 0722704
2Lt. Allan, Robert M. 0142, 0929245
2Lt. Bentley, Colin 1034 02060460
Sgt. D’Ambrosio, Michael V. 757 12151037
Sgt. Erickson, Charles L. 612, 37345112
2Lt. Fidan, Charles J 1092, 0821963
Podgurski was the pilot. If his name seems a bit familiar to the B-24 scholars, it should. He was the co-pilot on the "Liberty Lad" 93rd BG / 409th BS on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. "Liberty Lad" was the last B-24 to successfully return to its home base after the raid, having flown most of the way home with two engines out on the right side.
Re: B-24M - "Top of the Mark"
Wed May 25, 2016 7:48 pm
Didn't find this plane, but found something better. Podgurski's family had never seen this photo before, nor knew about the "Hap Arnold Special". That's what it's all about...helping families learn about their loved ones.
http://www.b24bestweb.com/501-v2-3.htm
Here the pic and text:
Hap Arnold Special by David Cohen, on Flickr
Starboard (Right) Side - AKA - "HAP ARNOLD SPECIAL", "THE SPIRIT OF FT. WORTH", and "OLE 501"
Contributor - Phillip H. Bentley
Shown with my Father, Colin Bentley (Radar Navigator), standing 2nd from right. They picked up "501" in Greenland and delivered it to India, on their way to China.
Crew:
2nd Lt. Robert M. Allan - Radar Observer
2nd Lt. Colin Bentley(dad) - Radar Navigator
Sgt. John V. Clark - Mechanic/Gunner/Flight Engineer
2nd Lt. Edward M. Corson - Bombardier Sgt. Michael V. D’Ambrosio - Radio Operator/Gunner
Sgt. Charles L. Erickson - Armorer/Gunner
2nd Lt. Charles J. Fiden - Pilot
2nd. Lt. Henry A. Podgurski - Pilot
Research Team Comments: The last of the 3,034 B-24s assembled at the Consolidated Fort Worth Plant, coming off the line 30 Dec 44. Crashed on takeoff from Dudkundi, India in May 1945; Pilot Lt Ralph Goodrich; Copilot Lt Vernon Drake. Also crashed on takeoff in Abadan, Iran in Oct 1945 on it's return to ZI. This plane was converted to an AZON aircraft.
http://www.b24bestweb.com/501-v2-3.htm
Here the pic and text:
Hap Arnold Special by David Cohen, on FlickrStarboard (Right) Side - AKA - "HAP ARNOLD SPECIAL", "THE SPIRIT OF FT. WORTH", and "OLE 501"
Contributor - Phillip H. Bentley
Shown with my Father, Colin Bentley (Radar Navigator), standing 2nd from right. They picked up "501" in Greenland and delivered it to India, on their way to China.
Crew:
2nd Lt. Robert M. Allan - Radar Observer
2nd Lt. Colin Bentley(dad) - Radar Navigator
Sgt. John V. Clark - Mechanic/Gunner/Flight Engineer
2nd Lt. Edward M. Corson - Bombardier Sgt. Michael V. D’Ambrosio - Radio Operator/Gunner
Sgt. Charles L. Erickson - Armorer/Gunner
2nd Lt. Charles J. Fiden - Pilot
2nd. Lt. Henry A. Podgurski - Pilot
Research Team Comments: The last of the 3,034 B-24s assembled at the Consolidated Fort Worth Plant, coming off the line 30 Dec 44. Crashed on takeoff from Dudkundi, India in May 1945; Pilot Lt Ralph Goodrich; Copilot Lt Vernon Drake. Also crashed on takeoff in Abadan, Iran in Oct 1945 on it's return to ZI. This plane was converted to an AZON aircraft.