HAIL COLUMBIA (V1) (PIC 1)

NAME

SER

BLK

SERIAL #

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

HAIL COLUMBIA

41-11825

344

01-1

N/A

Starboard (Right) Side - Survived Operation TIDAL WAVE, 1 Aug 43, Ploesti Romania

Info Contributor - Joe Taddonio
Led the second wave of bombers on "TIDAL WAVE" (low level Ploesti mission). Pilot - Colonel "Killer" Kane, Group C.O.

Info Contributor - Bill Whitney
This aircraft originally served in the 344th BS as HAIL COLUMBIA. It was 344th CO John R. Kane's personal aircraft until Kane became 98th BG CO and turned it over to Herman "Big-Dog" Lewis. Lewis changed the right side nose art to LITTLE-CHIEF BIG-DOG but retained HAIL COLUMBIA on the left side. Following the death of Lewis in another ship, the airplane was transferred to the 343rd BS where the left side art work was changed to GRUMPY in compliance with the Snow White Squadron directive. Wilfred Brann was the crew chief of GRUMPY in the 343rd. LITTLE-CHIEF BIG-DOG had been removed prior to the Rome mission of 19 July 43. Just prior to the low level Ploesti mission, 98th Group CO John R. "Killer" Kane had the airplane returned to the 344th BS where a new form of the original HAIL COLUMBIA nose art quickly replaced GRUMPY. The aircraft cracked up while landing at Cyprus following the low level Ploesti mission and was abandoned.