Attack on Ploesti Target White IV, B-24, 41-11886, “Lil Joe”

On August 1, 1943, the 44th, 93rd, 98th, 376th and 398th Bomb Groups left Benghazi, Libya on Operation Tidal Wave to bomb the Romania oil refineries in Ploesti. Historians cite the mission as the most intensively prepared and experienced ever flown in aerial warfare.

For Hitler’s massive forces, Romania was a valued ally. Governed by Marshal Ion Antonescu, the country was among the world’s largest producers, eventually supplying almost 60 percent of the Third Reich’s thirsty oil needs. The Fuhrer’s precious black gold was guarded by 300 flak guns, hundreds of machine guns, a deadly flak train, concealed emplacements, 120 German fighters and 200 Romanian Air Force fighters.

In the early afternoon of August 1, 1943, an armada of B-24 Liberators arrived at Ploesti after a journey of 1,200 miles from Benghazi, Libya. Planned as a surprise attack, five groups would drop their bombs from 200 to 800 feet, expecting an ensuing inferno. But the Germans knew they were coming.

From the Badger State:

The 9th Air Force’s 98th Bomb Group, 345th Bomb Squadron was among the vast fleet of B-24s heading across the Mediterranean from Libya. “Lil Joe” 41-11886, was named for a dice roll craps combination of four, referred to as a "Little Joe" score. On August 1, 1943, Lil Joe carried a crew of nine officers and enlisted men. 2Lt. Philip Erick Nelson, O-667419, was the navigator.

Born in Tripp, Bayfield County, Wisconsin on September 22, 1918, Philip was the son of Nels C. Nelson, a farmer, and Nannie Eleanor Anderson Nelson. Philip and his younger sister, Marian Maxine attended public school and helped their parents with farm chores. After high school, Philip completed three years of college. After the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, Philip left college and enlisted with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on December 18, 1941 in Wausau, Wisconsin. Aviation Cadet Nelson completed his basic and advanced training and was assigned to the 98th Bomb Group, 345th Bomb Squadron.

A Harrowing Journey, a Desperate Chance:

Flown by 1Lt. Lindley P. Hussey, Lil Joe was in the fourth wave attacking White IV at Ploesti. Over the Mediterranean, the aircraft developed a leak in the fuel connection. By the time Hussey reached the target area, the B-24 had incurred a substantial loss of fuel. On approach to White IV, Lil Joe was hit by flak in one of its 400 gallon extra bomb bay gasoline tanks. The plane, filled with fumes from the leak, caught fire in the bomb bay. Hussey climbed the aircraft and signaled the crew to bail out.

Lil Joe, now fully engulfed, crashed in a field beyond Ploesti. At least six men jumped at between 75 -100 feet. Lt. Hussey and radio operator. both badly burned, were injured and pulled from the wreckage by the Romanians. Two men landed safely but were taken prisoners with Lt. Hussey and T/Sgt. Edmond T. Terry. Among the five men who were killed, two were unidentified.

Killed in Action:

Co-pilot: 2Lt. Donald Jenkins

Flight Engineer: T/Sgt. Lloyd Theodore Fowler

Navigator: 2Lt. Philip Erick Nelson

Bombardier: 1Lt. Allan E. Peterson

Tail Gunner: S/Sgt. Roy Carney

Prisoners of War:

Pilot: 1Lt. Lindley Hussey

Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Edmond T. Terry

Waist Gunner: Raymond A. Heisner

Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. James E. Turner

Survived by his parents and sister, Lt. Nelson received the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor, the Air Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Purple Heart posthumously for this mission. Philip Erick Nelson is memorialized at the American Ardennes Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (SBTS.) SBTS is a national effort of volunteers to write stories about all 400,000+ U.S. WW II fallen service personnel on Together We Served and on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Stories will be accessible via smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen serviceperson’s name and read his/her story. If you have details, photos or corrections for this story, please contact drbaker50@charter.net. Stories Behind the Stars: Pamela C. Baker, Ph.D., Contributing Author. SBTS Project/Wisconsin/Bayfield (https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/)

References:

Dugan, James and Carroll Stewart. Ploesti: The Great Ground-Air Battle of 1 August 1943, Revised Edition, Brassey's Aviation Classics, Brassey’s, Inc. Washington, D.C., 2002.

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive/aircraft/41-11886

https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive?fulltext=operation+tidal+wave

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56360036/philip-erick-nelson

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/529852915/philip-e-nelson

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-ardennes-n/54019-nelson-philip-e

Philip E Nelson