WHAM BAM (PIC 2)

NAME

SER

BLK

SERIAL #

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

WHAM BAM

41-23738

330

00-2

N/A

Starboard (Right) Side - Warner Bros. character "Bugs Bunny"

Info Contributor - Tom Brittan
Original aircraft in 93rd BG / 330th BS (F). Early in 1944 it was transferred to 453rd BG to become that Group's assembly ship. It was war weary when salvaged on 11 May 45 as it was uneconomical to repair. As its salvage is recorded on the 3 SAD Field Engineering Salvage List for 445th BG, it is possible that WHAM BAM was transferred to 445th BG after 453rd's last mission on 11 Apr 44. 453rd BG was withdrawn from combat about two weeks before 2nd AD Groups flew their final combat mission, the intention being to re-deploy the Group to the PTO.

Info Contributor - Daniel L. Stockton
Shown with Ben Kuroki (Top Turret Gunner, 93rd BG), the only Japanese "Nisei" (second generation) who was allowed to fly with the U.S. Army Air Corps over Europe and Japan during WWII. He was born an American citizen in Hershey, Nebraska. Flew 30 combat missions over Europe and North Africa in B-24's, including the famous raid over Hitler's oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania (1 Aug 43), and then he was transferred to the Pacific Theatre, where he flew 28 more combat missions over Japan as a Tail Gunner in the B-29 The Honorable “Sad Saki”, which was named in his honor.
Featured in "Boy from Nebraska" "Lucky Ears" "Most Honorable Son" (DVD) "Nisei Hero"

Info Contributor - Carol Bruzzese
My Father, Dante Morroni, flew 32 missions from 27 Apr - 25 Jul 44. He said that this bird became the "weather plane" at Old Buck (Buckenham) near Attleborough, England (Station #144).