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This is crew 11 of the "Tallywacker" (A/C #42-52212), which was this crew's regular plane. However, on April 25 1944 they were the crew of the "Leap Year Lady" (A/C #42-52214) . The story of what happened to the crew and plane is below. Plato Brown, pictured below, is not in the crew picture because he substituted on another plane the day this picture was taken. 

 

Above is a photo of Plato J. Brown, 744th Bomb Squadron. Plato was KIA on April 25, 1944 when the "Leap Year Lady" crashed in the Adriatic sea. 

The following is provided by Fred Riley:

Plato and crew were in the 744th Bombardment Squadron and flew out of our air field at Stornara, Italy. On 25 April 1944, Group mission # 38, the target was the Turin aircraft factory, Italy. Thirty three bombers dropped 69.75 ton o bombs on the factory and there were three early returns. A good concentration of bombs was reported on the assembly and machine shops. Flak was heavy, moderate and accurate.

A 744th Squadron plane by Lt. Desperock turned back prior to reaching the target due to engine trouble. They were forced to ditch in the Adriatic Sea near Fossacessia, Italy. T/Sgt. Clifford Adams, T/Sgt. Thomas Cable and Lt. Nathan Hoffman were rescued by Italian fishermen. 
The 744th plane was A/C # 42-52214 "Leap Year Lady" reported on Missing Aircraft Report MACR 5640.

Lt. Desperock's crew:

• Pilot - 1st Lt. Joseph Desperock - KIA

• Radio operator - T/Sgt. Clifford Adams - Rescued

• Upper turret - S/Sgt. Plato Brown - KIA

• Flight engineer - T/Sgt. Thomas Cabel - Rescued 

• Bombardier - 2nd Lt. Lester Carlson - KIA

• Ball turret - S/Sgt. William Caudill - KIA

• Tail turret - S/Sgt. Alexander Cernak - KIA

• Co-pilot - 2nd Lt. Nathan Hoffman - Rescued

• Nose turret - S/Sgt. William Mills - KIA

• Navigator - 2nd Lt. Victor Peytral - KIA

• Radio operator - Demeritus Koske - KIA - flew as an extra radio operator that day.
  
  Those above that are listed as KIA never had their bodies recovered or were not identified, and all of them are listed on the wall of honor in the American Cemetery in Florence Italy.

Photos courtesy Mike Sawyer

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