NAME | TP | - | M# | SER | - | BLK | - | MF | SERIAL # |
AF |
BG |
BS |
SC | RCL/# | V#-P | PHOTO CREDITS |
TWO TON TESSIE |
B |
- |
24 |
H |
- |
10 | - |
FO | 42-52117 | 15 |
449 |
719 | ~ | 7 | 00-2 |
N/A |
"From Nashville Tenn." -
1939 Song
by Tessie O'Shea - Renamed from
LIBERATOR BY FORD
Lost 29 May 44, AUT - MACR 5461 Pg1 /
Pg2 - Pilot George T.
Fergus, Jr.
Contributor - Brendan Wood
Info Contributor - Don
Shepherd
Purchased from funds raised through a War
Bond drive in Nashville, Tennessee. Delivered to Bruning 27 Oct 43.
On the way to Wiener-Neustadt, Austria, 29 May 44, some 20 minutes
before reaching the IP, the Radio Operator aboard ship #07 called
in on the command frequency saying they were "having trouble
with turbos". The Group leader instructed them to
jettison their bomb load. After dropping its bombs, she was able
to maintain position in the formation. However, just as the
Group was reaching the IP, she dropped out of the formation
and turned back alone, apparently still under control
when it turned back, and no chutes were seen. This aircraft
was not seen after that time by any of the Group aircraft.
It would later be learned that TWO TON TESSIE fell victim to
enemy fighters after the turn back. All ten members of Fergus's
crew succeeded in bailing out safely and subsequently became
POWs.
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Best Web. Published on Veterans Day 11/11/97. Last
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08-Dec-2021