mortar crew

Romanian B-24D-5 on Ghimbav airfield, June 1944. 
Photo by eng.pilot Alexandru ”Dudu” Frim (1908 - 1980?)

Photo credit: Alexandru ”Dudu” Frim (I.A.R. chief test pilot) Collection/ Third Axis Fourth Ally - Romanian Armed Forces in the European War, 1941-1945
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B-24D-5 41-23782 ”BOILER MAKER II” / 98 BG ”PIRAMIDERS” - 415 SQ

Hit bt flak in #2 and #3 engine, it knock a chimney of Astra, then it has a force landing, South-East from Ploiesti near Trestieni village. ”Boiler Maker II” will become the first ”Liberator” with Romanian cockades.

Pilot: Helin, Theodore- POW 
CoPilot: Smith, Charles E.- POW
Navigator: Aronson, Albert M. - POW 
Bomber: Hubbard, Maynard G.- POW 
Radio: Opp, Harry C.- POW 
Engineer: White, Arthur W.- POW 
Gunner: Walaczka, Raymond C.- POW
Gunner: Passalacqua, Peter C.- POW
Gunner: Zeger, William M.- POW
Tail gunner: Warner, Delbert R.- POW

[...] on September 15.1943, a team of workers from IAR-Brașov, went to the landing place, were under the leading of eng.pilot Frim, the works started. The bomber was ready to fly at the end of December. 
[...]  the bomber was moved on Ghimbav airfield, where it will be fired an put on fire by Luftwaffe fighters, more precisely on August 26,1944.

Info from: Ploesti - Low Level Strike by Corneliu Năstase, Dan Melinte and Răzvan Bujor
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Romanian B-24D-5

Cpt.av. Alexandru Șerbanescu (right) and Of.ech.cl.III Ioan Milu share a joke in front of a Grupul 9 Vânătoare (9th Fighter Group) Gustav at Tecuci airfield in June 1944. Both wear the Iron Cross First Class and Frontflugspange in Gold. Additionally, Milu's tunic is decorated with the Mihai Viteazul Order and the ribbon of the Iron Cross, Second Class.

Of.ech.cl.III Ioan Milu (1902-1980)
Victories: 45 confirmed + 6 probable. 

Cpt.av. Alexandru Șerbanescu (1912-1944 KIA)
Victories: 47 confirmed + 8 probable.