42-86897.Over Ploesti, Romania.

Lt. Col. Addison E. Baker served as pilot and commanding officer of the 93rd Bomb Group. He piloted B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 low-level attack against the Ploesti oil refineries (Operation Tidal Wave). Baker's aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire over Ploesti and crashed and burned in the town at an altitude of 300 feet or less. He did not survive the crash. Baker was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during this mission. The crash was witnessed and confirmed by Major Joseph G. Pate Jr., Major George S. Brown, and Captain Carl G. Barthel, all of whom reported seeing the aircraft crash at Ploesti.

1st Lt. Robert W. Womely was a bomber pilot who flew a total of nine missions including the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. His known missions included targets at La Pallice (France), Messina (Sicily), Naples, Rome, Foggia, and Reggio (Italy), an airfield in southern Italy, and Ploesti (Romania). On the Ploesti mission, Womely's aircraft executed a crash landing. He did not bail out as the aircraft was flying at treetop level. He survived the crash but lost a foot in the incident. He was last seen lying near the downed aircraft and later encountered at a prison camp in Romania. After the crash, Womely reportedly called out to his crew: 'Carry the fight on boys and good luck!' He was subsequently seen in the United Kingdom in September 1944 and confirmed alive in the United States at McCloskey General Hospital, Temple, Texas, in December 1944. Information provided by Ex S/Sgt. Jack Reed (serial 18084225), who had personal contact with Womely.

Major John L. Jorstad served as co-pilot aboard B-24D serial 42-86897, piloted by Lt. Col. Addison Baker, on the August 1, 1943 low-level raid against Ploesti, Romania. The aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed and burned in the town of Ploesti at an altitude of 300 feet or less. Jorstad did not survive the crash and was reported as a battle casualty.

1st Lt. George J. Reuter served as navigator aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. The crew was part of the 93rd Bomb Group flying out of Bengasi on Operation Tidal Wave. Reuter's aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in Ploesti at extremely low altitude. He was reported as a battle casualty and did not survive.

1st Lt. William L. Little served as bombardier on a B-24 that crash-landed near Ploesti, Romania, on August 1, 1943. He did not bail out as the aircraft was flying too low. He was trapped in the plane at the time of the crash and, though he reported he was not seriously injured, sustained very serious wounds. According to a Romanian officer identified as Captain 'Christy,' Little died a few days after the crash from gasoline poisoning in a hospital somewhere in Romania near or at Ploesti. He was buried in a 'Heroes Only' cemetery believed to be near Sinaia, Romania. T/Sgt. Howard O. Ford reportedly attended Little's burial. This information was provided by Ex S/Sgt. Jack Reed (serial 18084225), who had no direct contact with Little after the crash landing.

1st Lt. Alfred W. Pessella served as bombardier aboard B-24D serial 42-86897, commanded by Lt. Col. Addison Baker, on the August 1, 1943 low-level attack on Ploesti. The aircraft was lost to anti-aircraft fire and crashed and burned at Ploesti, Romania. Pessella was reported as a battle casualty and did not survive.

T/Sgt. Charles E. Bennett served as flight engineer aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 low-level attack against Ploesti, Romania (Operation Tidal Wave). The aircraft was destroyed by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed in Ploesti. Bennett was reported as a battle casualty. Listed as crew on this aircraft per Find A Grave; his own bio elsewhere records his crew function as Engineer.

S/Sgt. Charles K. Roumet served as flight engineer aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. The MACR lists his rank as 2/Sgt., corrected here to S/Sgt. based on context. The aircraft crashed and burned in Ploesti after being struck by anti-aircraft fire during the low-level attack. Roumet did not survive and was reported as a battle casualty.

S/Sgt. John M. Carroll served as radio operator aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 low-level raid against Ploesti, Romania, as part of Operation Tidal Wave. Carroll's aircraft crashed and burned at Ploesti after being brought down by anti-aircraft fire at extremely low altitude. He was reported as a battle casualty.

S/Sgt. George P. Allen served as gunner aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 low-level attack against Ploesti, Romania. The aircraft was destroyed by enemy anti-aircraft fire and crashed in Ploesti. Allen was reported as a battle casualty.

Sgt. James W. Barrer served as a gunner on a B-24 that participated in the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. He did not bail out as the aircraft was flying too close to the ground. He was seriously injured in the crash, saying 'I am hurt' before losing consciousness. Despite his serious injuries, Barrer survived the war. He was personally seen by Ex S/Sgt. Jack Reed (serial 18084225) in February 1945, alive, at a redistribution station in Miami Beach, Florida.

S/Sgt. Edgar C. Faith served as gunner aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid flown by Lt. Col. Addison Baker and crew of the 93rd Bomb Group. The aircraft was downed by anti-aircraft fire and crashed and burned in Ploesti at less than 300 feet altitude. Faith was reported as a battle casualty and did not survive.

S/Sgt. Morton O. Stafford served as gunner aboard B-24D serial 42-86897 on the August 1, 1943 low-level raid against the Ploesti oil refineries as part of Operation Tidal Wave. Stafford did not survive and was reported as a battle casualty. His aircraft crashed and burned in Ploesti after being struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire at very low altitude.

S/Sgt. William P. Wood served as gunner aboard B-24D serial 42-86897, Lt. Col. Addison Baker's aircraft, on the August 1, 1943 Ploesti raid. Wood did not survive the crash of his aircraft at Ploesti and was reported as a battle casualty. The aircraft burned after crashing in the town at very low altitude.