The WITCH (V1) (PIC 4)

NAME

SER

BLK

SERIAL #

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

WITCH, The

41-11840

343

01-4

N/A

Port (Left) Side - Walt Disney Character - "Snow White Theme"
Unique Mission Markers - "Witch Holding a Bomb"
Survived Operation TIDAL WAVE, 1 Aug 43, Ploesti Romania
Force-Landed near Bulgaria/Yugoslavia Border - MACR 173 - Pilot Julian T. Darlington (389th BG)
Featured in "Force for Freedom"Artwork

Info Contributor - Bill Whitney
This aircraft was named and painted before the 343rd squadron left Florida for duty in the MTO in July 1942. It played a supporting role in an effort made by the Rollo Lawrence crew to interest other 343rd crews in using characters from the Snow White movie as a theme for naming their nine ships. The proposal met a cool reception from the other 343rd crews and only two of the aircraft were so named SNOW WHITE (41-11913) - Rollo Lawrence crew and The WITCH (41-11840) - Glade Jorgenson crew. The 343rd started combat operations from Palestine in Aug 1942. This aircraft was lost on the low-level Ploesti mission 1 Aug 43. It was flown by the Julian Darlington crew (on loan to the 98th BG from the 389th BG) and made a forced landing near the border of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia following a running fight with enemy fighters. Six of the crew became POWs in Bulgaria, the other four evaded and joined with Yugoslav partisans for almost a year.