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 crude 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.

A Kansan Flies with Killer Kane’s 98th:

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.

Commanded by Colonel John R. “Killer” Kane, the 98th was awarded the Distinguished Unit Citation for its valor during the air assault. On August 1, 1943, Lil Joe carried a crew of nine officers and enlisted men. Technical Sergeant Lloyd Theodore Fowler was the flight engineer on the mission, a position near the B-24’s top turret gun.

Born in Salina, Saline County, Kansas on November 3, 1902, he was the oldest of three children born to Elgar E. Fowler and Agnes Winchester Fowler and had six half-siblings. Prior to his enlistment, he married Nova Ruth Gordon and the couple had a daughter, Delores Jean (Fowler) Yancy (1928-2018.) In 1940, the family lived in Dungan, Cowlitz County, Washington where Lloyd worked as a self-employed carpenter. He enlisted with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on March 4, 1942 in Portland, Oregon. His NARA records list his residency in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania.

A Harrowing Journey, a Desperate Chance:

Flown by 1Lt. Lindley P. Hussey, Lil Joe was in the fourth wave attacking the Astro Romano refinery, 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 lost 800 gallons of fuel and would have been unable to return to its Tunisian base. 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 T/Sgt. Edmond T. Terry, both badly burned, were pulled from the wreckage by the Romanians. Two men landed safely but were taken prisoners with Lt. Hussey and T/Sgt. 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 (1917-1964)

Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Edmond T. Terry (1914-1984)

Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. Raymond A. Heisner (1922-1958)

Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. James E. Turner

Survived by his widow, daughter, parents and siblings, T/Sgt. Fowler received the Distinguished Flying Cross for valor, the Air Medal, the World War II Victory Medal and the Purple Heart posthumously for his mission.

Lloyd Theodore Fowler 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/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia (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/unit/98th-bomb-group

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

https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/98th_Bombardment_Group.cfm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/345th_Bomb_Squadron

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/529853355/lloyd-t-fowler

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56358218/lloyd-theodore-fowler

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/en/american-war-cemetery-ardennes-f/54528-fowler-lloyd-t

https://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/211265-operation-tidalwave/

Lloyd T Fowler