This was a War Bond plane funded by citizens of Alpena, Michigan who collected $375,000. The aircraft was assigned to the crew of Lt W H Ridgeway at Clovis Army Air Base in December 1943 and flown overseas by them to commence missions in mid January with the 449th Bomb Group, flying from Italy.

Thunder Bay Babe was lost on 24th March 1944 on a mission to the Walzergerwerk Ball Bearing plant at Steyr. En route to the target an impenetrable weather front was encountered and as the formation attempted to go round it this B24 was observed to be flying erratically but under control before disappearing into the clouds below as the group turned for home.

It seems that the crew of Thunder Bay Babe did not hear the recall when it came and continued to fly on. When they realised they were alone the pilot turned and flew back directly over the heavily defended area around Mostar. A flak burst hit one of the bombs still on board and the entire mid section of the Liberator was engulfed in flames. Only four of the crew managed to escape the inferno to become POWs, six men died when the plane crashed into the side of a mountain.

   
Christening ceremony at Alpena in December 1943

Known Mission List

Date	Pilot	Target	Notes
9 Dec 1943	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock		Overseas, picked up by crew at Clovis AAB.
14 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
15 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock	Prato MY	R/E (NS) -
16 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
19 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
23 Jan 1944	W H Jones / O C Mitchell
24 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
27 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
28 Jan 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
29 Jan 1944	W H Jones / O C Mitchell
8 Feb 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
20 Feb 1944	Starr
22 Feb 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock	Regensburg	R/E (NS) - #4 eng oil leak
23 Feb 1944	Gray
3 Mar 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock
19 Mar 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock	Knin MY	Failed to bomb
24 Mar 1944	W H Ridgway / J C Whitlock	Steyr	MISSING - macr # 3469 (6 KIA, 4 POW)

 

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© Ray Bowden 2 December 2023

 

Information Update for Readers of "Plane Names & Fancy Noses - 91st Bomb Group (Heavy)"