Finding Aid · Aircraft Index · Serial 41-23754
Teggie Ann, B-24D
“Teggie Ann”
Finish & Markings
Olive Drab
NOSE ART ON FILE
B-24D · 409th Bombardment Squadron · 93rd BG (H)

“Teggie Ann”

41-23754
Interned
Fuselage Code
YM
Radio Call Letter
LLove

Teggie Ann served as the 93rd Bomb Group's flagship, named for Maj. Keith Compton's infant daughter. Col. Edward J. 'Ted' Timberlake flew it as lead aircraft on the Group's first combat mission, to Lille on October 9, 1942, with Capt. John 'Jerk' Jerstad in the co-pilot's seat and navigator Rollin Reineck aboard; on landing, an exhilarated Jerstad's remark that he'd 'never seen so much flak' was later widely quoted. On November 13, 1942, King George VI toured Teggie Ann's bomb bay during his visit to Alconbury, the first-ever royal visit to an American bomber base, admiring the twin .50-caliber guns in the top turret and chatting with crew chief Sgt. Norman C. Tussey, who told the King bluntly that he disliked the English weather.

Timberlake and Compton were slated to lead the November 17, 1942 St. Nazaire mission in Teggie Ann, but an engine problem forced Timberlake to switch to Night Raider at the last minute. The engine came back to life, and Compton flew Teggie Ann on the mission instead, with Lt. James Leary aboard in place of the bumped crew. On another cross-Channel mission, a bombardier's report of hits after bombs-away prompted a wry, seemingly unfamiliar question from Timberlake about 'those things hanging in the racks.'

Renamed Little Lady, the aircraft flew the low-level Ploesti raid of August 1, 1943, and landed in Turkey afterward, where the crew was interned.

Photographs

Sources