Original U.S. WWII B-24 Liberator Agony Wagon 392nd Bomb Group Named Co-Pilot Grouping
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Original Items: One-of-a-kind grouping. Flight Officer Michael Weber ASN T126846 from Cincinnati, Ohio was a Co Pilot who flew aboard various B-24's including one named AGONY WAGON as a member of Lieutenant Boyd D. Adsit's crew in the USAAF 8th Air Force, 392nd Bombardment Group, 578th Bomb Squadron based out of Wendling, England.
The 392nd Bomb Group flew B-24 Liberators out of Wendling, Norfolk from August 1943 until April 1945. They were the first Group to be given B-24H Liberators, the first B-24 model that was fitted with a nose turret on the production line, an adaptation that increasing the ability of crews to fight enemy aircraft flying head on with the bomber. The Group was awarded one Distinguished Unit Citation for bombing an aircraft and components factory at Gotha on 24 February 1944, as part of the Big Week of assaults on German aircraft targets. After the invasion of mainland Europe the Group supported the airborne invasion of Holland and assault across the Rhine by Allied paratroops.
Weber flew 28 missions with the Adsit crew from November 30th, 1944 to April 20th, 1945 all of them over Germany. Below is the list of his missions.
30-Nov-1944, Neunkirchen
11-Dec-1944, Hanau
12-Dec-1944, Hanau
24-Dec-1944, Ruwer and Pfalzel
31-Dec-1944, Euskirchen
02-Jan-1945, Engers
07-Jan-1945, Landau (Bail Out, Entire Crew Survived)
28-Jan-1945, Dortmund
09-Feb-1945, Magdeburg
22-Feb-1945, Northeim
24-Feb-1945, Misburg
26-Feb-1945, Berlin
27-Feb-1945, Halle
02-Mar-1945, Magdeburg
05-Mar-1945, Harburg
10-Mar-1945, Bielefeld
12-Mar-1945, Swinemunde
15-Mar-1945, Zossen
18-Mar-1945, Berlin
20-Mar-1945, Hemmingstedt
22-Mar-1945, Schwabish Hall
24-Mar-1945, Stormede
04-Apr-1945, Kaltenkirchen
06-Apr-1945, Halle
07-Apr-1945, Krummel
09-Apr-1945, Leipheim
15-Apr-1945, Royan
20-Apr-1945, Schwandorf
Note: All 28 of his missions with mission descriptions can be found at this wonderful website b24.net
Mission description for 7 January 1945, Mission #224, Target: Landau
General briefings for (29) crews were conducted between 0515 and 0630 hours for a strike against the railroad station at Landau with a secondary target of the Kaiserslautern marshalling yards. All crews commenced take-offs at 0840 hours with (26) going over the cloud obscured primary, releasing by GH. One of these had formed with the 458th and bombed with this unit. The Group dropped (559) 250 and 500# bombs on target with results generally unobserved. There were enemy aircraft reaction with AA fire being meager and inaccurate. Returning bombers landed around 1450 hours with (1) battle damaged. Fighter support on this mission was rated fair.
The Adsit crew, aboard #42-51235, had to bail out over Alsace-Lorraine due to multiple engine failure. The aircraft crashed between Hellimer and Francaltroff, France, after being abandoned.
Included in this incredible grouping are the following items:
- OD Green Class A Dress Uniform including tunic named in internal pocket with 8th AAF Patch, Sterling Silver Pilot wings, Flight Officer Shoulder Rank Pins, Officer Garrison Overseas hat .
- Khaki Uniform name din neck with 8th AAF Patch with Khaki Shirt
- USAAF, Suit, Flying TYPE L-1 Light Gabardine Size Medium
- Khaki Visor "Crush" Cap.
- AGONY WAGON by QR Wedgeworth Navigator. A 200+ page binder put together by Weber's navigator with clipping, photos, mission logs, correspondence, notes, specifications, technical documents, orders, reports, etc. Encompassing all missions and their time in the ETO. INCREDIBLE!!!
- 8 x wartime maps with bombing locations circled including Neunkirchen, Magdeburg, Royan, Halle and many others. Most of the maps have multiple locations circled.
- Red tin and wood trunk with AAF wings in yellow on front and original Trans World Airlines luggage tag still on the handle.
- Dozens of books, photos, manuals, papers, official wartime documents and more.This is one of the most wonderful comprehensive well researched WWII airmen groupings we have ever offered!
- This product is available for international shipping.
- Eligible for all payments - Visa, Mastercard, Discover, AMEX, Paypal & Sezzle
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