Don Olds’ article about the “Hoo Jive”, brought back many memories of a tough B-24. The original crew was with the 453^rd Bomber Group (BG), 734^th Squadron. Alfred P. Tolley (deceased) was pilot, Frank Guild co-pilot, Paul Pflug- Navigator, Lee Strait – Bombardier, Winfred Maxwell – Radio Operator, Everette Vogan Engineer, Kenneth Wise second engineer-gunner, Henry De Sautel Engineer-gunner, George Kardos – Tail Gunner, and Sam Rainer- Armorer-Gunner. After finishing our final phase of training November, 1943, with the 453^rd BG at March Field, California, the crew was sent to Hamilton Field, California, to pick up a new B-24, Later to be named the “Hoo Jive.” Our destination from Hamiton Field was Old Buckingham.” England, by the southern route.

When we started out, to our dismay, we found that when the nose wheel was let down it would turn in a position parallel to the wing instead of parallel to the fuselage, as it should. To land most of the crew would move back in the plane to make it tilt on the rear skid. Two of us would tie a rope to the nose gear and try to pull the wheel into a normal position. This became standard procedure for landing until we got to England. The ground crews at various stops attempted to fix the nose wheel, but it was not until we reached England and our own ground crew at “Old Buck” corrected the situation.

While flying over the equator in South America, the “Hoo Jive” was caught in one of those turbulent up-drafts that caused the plane to go straight up several thousand feet above our flying altitude. Neither the pilot nor the co-pilot could control the plane. We were forced up to an altitude where oxygen would have been helpful. We had verry little oxygen in the system. All of a sudden we got on the down side of this disturbance and the “Hoo Jive” started into a nose dive. Luckily, the pilot and co-pilot were able to pull the plane out and the “Hoo Jive” stood the stress.

We arrived in England in early January 1944. After a few training missions, the 453^rd was put into action. During the early missions we had an escort of some of our fighters and English Spitfires for a short distance. The fighters would meet us on our return as far as their range could take them. The “Hoo Jive” took a beating from Luftwaffe and flak during this time but always was able to limp back to Old Busk – sometimes with less than four engines and much other damage.

In the Spring of 1944, the “Hoo Jive” and its crew was assigned to the Second Air Division Path Finder Force (PFF.) Radar was installed to enable bombing when clouds covered the target. The ball turret was removed and replaced with a radar dome. Grant Collins and Leonard Krone were added to the crew to operate the radar making a total of twelve crew members. Since we always flew lead or deputy lead, a command pilot was assigned for each mis sion. Actor Jimmy Stewart was one of our command pilots.

The PFF squadron was stationed at Hethel with the 389rh BG and was listed as the 564^th squadron. This squadron, under the command of Major Dale Sisson was named the finest squadron in the ETO. Whenever the Luftwaffe appeared, PFF planes were good targets because of being out front with the radar dome sticking out.

On our last mission, shortly after D-Day, June 25, 1944, the “Hoo Jive” was so badly damaged that we crash landed at Hethel. I was glad to know that the old plane was patched up and put back in action.

The name “Hoo Jive” came from one of our crew members, who referred to a pretty girl as a Hoo Jive. Since we could not agree on any specific name, we called our plane the “Hoo Jive.”

Seven of the crew members met in Orlando, Florida, October, 1980, at an Eighth Air Force reunion. All of the original crew of the Hoo Jive are still living except the pilot, Alfred Tolley. He died several years ago of a heart attack.