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B-24 Liberator “Hadley’s Harem” in Rahmi M. Koç Museum |
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 B-24
D "Hadley’s Harem" serial number 41-24311-L was produced by Consolidated in 1941. In August 1943, during a raid on the petroleum refineries in Poliesti, Romania, Hadley’s Harem was part of the US Air Force 98th Bomber Group "Pyramiders". During this historical operation, Hadley’s Harem was the first aircraft on the left flank of Colonel John R. "Killer" Kane who was heading "Flight One" as the group leader. With a crew of ten on board, their target was the Astro Romano refinery, the largest petroleum refining facility in Ploesti, code name "White Four". While Hadley’s Harem was on its approach to the target, it was hit by an anti-aircraft shell which went through the nose section of the fuselage and exploded causing serious damage to the aircraft. Bombardier Storms died instantly as a result of chest injuries received from shrapnel fragments and Navigator Tabacoff was also wounded. The no.2 engine stopped so Engineer Page manually operated the bomb-bay thus releasing the bombs.
They set off on their return journey towards Benghazi but soon realized
this was not possible and changed The crew who survived reached the coast by swimming. Their first medical care came from the Turkish villagers who rescued them and then they were transported to the American Hospital (Admiral Bristol) in Istanbul. The Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared these people "shipwrecked mariners", thus allowing them to leave freely once their treatment was completed. |
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For Information on the Museum and
Hours of Operation Courtesy
of Steve and Linda Kay Dean
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their
heading towards the British Air Base in Cyprus via Turkey. The no.3
engine stopped over Anatolia and at a position past the Taurus
Mountains the oil pressure for no.1 engine began to decrease
rapidly. It was now clear they were not going to reach Cyprus so they
decided to land on Turkey's Mediterranean coast. The aircraft lost
its last two engines near Manavgat as they were trying to land and
one of its wings touched the water causing the aircraft to crash and
sink rapidly. The Pilot Gilbert Hadley and