B-24J-20-FO Liberator 44-48816

Transcription

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Consolidated (Ford) B-24J-20-FO Liberator 44-48816 "Ginnie"
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Consolidated (Ford) B-24M-10-FO Liberator "721" 44-50721
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Consolidated(Douglas-Tulsa) B-24H-1-DT Liberator 41-28610"Curly"
Aircraft of the 453rd
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Forward
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My interest in aircraft at Old Buckenham started several years ago and recently David
Moth and I have been involved in creating a web-based photographic record of visiting
aircraft, “OLDBUCKSHOTS”.
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With December 2013 being the 70th anniversary of the arrival of the 453rd Bomb Group, I
thought it appropriate to try to put together a record of all the B24 Liberators that were
based at Old Buckenham during World War II. I was particularly interested in recording the
individual aircraft identities including the names the crews gave their aircraft. (Details of
missions flown and aircrews are already well covered in existing publications.)
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My initial research was based on what I was able to glean from existing published
material, and, as far as I am aware, the information I have put together in this booklet is
not available in this format anywhere else.
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The project became even more interesting when I had the pleasure of meeting Pat Ramm
who, as a schoolboy during the war, was a frequent visitor to Old Buckenham airfield. He
very kindly allowed me to copy his large collection of photographs and also shared his
clear memories of the period with me. This spurred me on to undertake more thorough
research, the results of which I am now able to share with you.
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I am also indebted to the generous help from the members of the 453rd Memorial
Association in particular to Tom Brittan for sharing his personal records and also to Tim
Ramsey, without whom this booklet would not have been possible.
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Information and records from this period are far from complete. Should you be able to
add any more details, or provide photographs, I will be only too pleased to hear from you.
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Keith Sowter
December 2013
Old.buckshots@yahoo.com Aircraft of the 453rd
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Index
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Foreword
Page 2
Introduction
Page 4
Detailed List of Known Aircraft
Page 5
List of Known Aircraft – Serial order
Page 52
List of Losses
Page 59
List of Unidentified Aircraft
Page 62
Long Serving Aircraft
Page 63
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Introduction
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Personnel of the 453rd arrived at Old Buckenham the week before Christmas 1943.
The exact date of the first B24 arriving is not known but is believed to have been
2nd January 1944. A total of 60 aircraft are thought to have been delivered before
the Group started operations on 5th February 1944. By the end of the war over
200 different aircraft had been attributed to the Group
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Initially the Unit Identification code was a Black J in a white circle – painted on the
Tail Stabilisers and Right Upper Wing surfaces. Later in 1944 the tail markings
were changed to all black with a diagonal white band .
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The 453rd Bomb Group was made up of 4 Bomb Squadrons • 732 coded E3
• 733 coded F8
• 734 coded E8
• 735 coded H6
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The unit code was carried on the either side of the rear fuselage, with the aircraft
serial number facing inwards on both the rear stabilisers
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Aircraft assigned to each Squadron carried its own RCL ( Radio Call-sign Letter) on
the Tail Stabiliser.
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Many aircraft were unofficially named by their crews and carried nose art mainly
on the port side of the aircraft
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The unit operated the B24 Liberator throughout its stay. Various models were
operated including the B24D, B24H, B24J, B24L and B24M variants. The aircraft
were supplied in two colour schemes OD – Olive Drab or NMF Natural Metal Finish
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The 453rd carried out its 259th and last mission on 11th April 1945 receiving orders
to stand down the following day. All the aircraft departed Old Buckenham shortly
thereafter. !
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Detailed Aircraft Histories
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Below is a list of B24s that have been confirmed as having been flown by the 453rd
whilst flying out of Old Buckenham . Aircraft are listed in numerical order based
on the last 3 digits of the Serial Number. !
Each record below gives details ( where known) of the Aircraft Type, Serial , Call
Sign Letters , Bomb Sqdn. No., Code and Aircraft Finish . Followed by further
information.
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B-24H-20 DT 41-29005
I+ 734 E8 DOLLY'S SISTER
NMF
I- 734 E8
First trace: 7 May 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from I+ to I- between 13 & 19 May 44.
Lost 21 Nov 44 - landed at Bulltofta (Malmö), SWEDEN, having lost an engine over
the target. (Hamburg) MACR 10406
Brought back to England on 28 May 45.
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B-24H-20 FO 42-95019 T+ 735 H6
OD
First trace: 25 Apr 44.
Lost 25 Apr 44 on its only mission - flown by a 733rd BS crew, last sighted in the
vicinity of Paris and believed to have exploded in mid-air after being hit by flak
over France. (Mannheim) MACR 4305
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B-24J-125 CO 42-110025 P+ 735 H6
OD
P+ 734 E8
Assignment under 2 BD Operations Order #23 dated 2 Apr 44 confirming VOGC
30 Mar 44.
First trace: 30 Mar 44.
Transferred from 735th to 734th BS on 1 May 44.
Lost 8 May 44 - collided in mid-air (under fighter attack) with 42-50278 and
exploded - went down in a meadow 1 km NE of Tündern, 5 km S of Hameln, and
burned out. (Brunswick) MACR 4598
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95047 N 733 F8
NMF
M+ 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from N to M+ between 7 & 12 Jul 44.
Fitted with RCM equipment on 19 Oct 44 or earlier.
Repaired at Lympne (Ashford), Kent, 26 May - 22 Jun 44 - battle damage on 25
May 44 mission to Troyes, France.
Lost 19 Oct 44 - received a direct hit by flak over the target, rolled over, caught
fire and spiralled down in a slow spin. Crashed at Kalkheim im Taunus. (Mainz)
MACR 10177
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B-24J-130 CO 42-110047 B 732 E3 HUMPSHOT
OD
Q 732 E3
X 732 E3
31 Mar 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from B to Q between 8 & 13 Jul 44 and from Q to
X between 19 Sep & 22 Oct 44.
467th Sub-Depot determined fuel leak and changed nose turret 7 - 14 Feb 45.
On 7 Apr 45 mission to Düneberg, landed at Woodbridge, Suffolk, where nose
gear was repaired 7 - 11 Apr 45.
Transferred to 467th BG after 11 Apr 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95048 W+ 735 H6 JABBER-WOCK!
NMF
W- 735 H6
Individual aircraft letter changed from W+ to W- between 9 & 11 May 44.
Lost 7 Jul 44 - caught in intense and accurate flak, went down at Mendenheim.
(Halle) MACR 7226
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B-24JSH-5 FO 42-51063 Y 732 E3 DANNY BOY
NMF
ex 389th BG - kept YO squadron code - first trace in 453rd BG: 15 Jan 45.
Transferred to 93rd BG after 26 Feb 45.
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B-24J-145 CO 44-40072 A- 734 E8 B T O
NMF
ex 489th BG, originally 492nd BG with which it flew 29 missions.
First trace with 453rd BG: 11 Dec 44.
Fitted with RCM equipment from 29 Jan 45 or earlier.
Repaired at Leiston, Suffolk, 11 Jan 45 - hydraulic system damaged on 10 Jan 45
mission to Steinbrück.
Landed at B-51, Lille/Vendeville, France, on 16 Jan 45.
Returned with a runaway propeller and landed at Tibenham on 29 Jan 45 mission
to Hamm - nose wheel collapsed.
Nose turret changed from Consolidated MPC A-6B to Emerson A-15 by 467th SubDepot, Old Buckenham, 23 & 24 Feb 45.
Last trace with 453rd BG: 11 Apr 45.
Transferred to 466th BG with which it was RZI.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95073 Y 735 H6 FLYING HOME
NMF
Unk 732 E3
Departed U.S. 29 May 44. First trace in 453rd BG: 7 Oct 44 - where was it from May
44
Transferred from 735th to 732nd BS on 1 Apr 45.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 15 Mar 45 or earlier.
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Repaired at Framlingham, Suffolk, 29 Jan - 8 Feb 45 - # 4 engine – having landed
there on return from 28 Jan 44 mission to Dortmund due to bad weather, #4
engine out and flak damage.
Transferred to 467th BG between 9 & 25 Apr 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95076 C 732 E3 LACE
NMF
N 732 E3
Individual aircraft letter changed from C to N between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Fitted with RCM equipment from 12 Dec 44 or earlier.
Repaired at Beccles, Suffolk, 21 Oct - 9 Nov 44 - #1 engine, main landing gear
wheel and battle damage (no record on missions between 9 Oct 44 when it
aborted after 1h04, and 21 Oct 44)
Crashed 21 Jan 45 at Shadoxhurst, near Kingsnorth, Kent. (Heilbronn)
Salvaged 22 - 24 Jan 45 - left main landing gear gave out.
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B-24J-130 CO 42-110076 E+ 734 E8
OD
30 Mar 44.
Lost 8 Apr 44 on only mission - shot down by enemy fighters at Tylsen, near
Salzwedel. (Brunswick) MACR 3924
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B-24J-130 CO 42-110078 A 734 E8 LIBERTY RUN
OD
P 735 H6
SHOO SHOO BABY
P 735 H6
Unk 732 E3
First trace: 9 Apr 44. Transferred from 734th to 735th BS on 1 May 44.
Transferred from 735th to 732nd BS on 1 Apr 45 - call letter unknown. Assignment under 2 BD Operations Order dated 31 Mar 44 confirming VOGC.
Named LIBERTY RUN on 24 Dec 44 on the occasion of a Christmas party at Old
Buckenham for local children and flew to Paris with gifts for French children. Had
previously carried no visible nose art but was known as SHOO SHOO BABY. Fitted with RCM (from 14 Oct 44?)
Landed at Brussels, Belgium, on 18 Oct 44 mission to Cologne. Flew through a tree on take-off for 9 Nov 44 mission to Metz, France, - co-pilot
did not have hand on the throttles and they slipped - taken to Sub Depot after
mission for left flap and vertical stabiliser change. Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 4 & 5 Mar 45 – hydraulic system - on return
from 3 Mar 45 Magdeburg mission. Last trace: 4 Apr 45 - landed at B-53 (5 SAD Merville, France) ETR Old Buckenham:
8 Apr 45. RZI.
Salvaged 24 Sep 45 at Albuquerque NM.
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B-24J-130 CO 42-110085 W 733 F8 FLAK HACK
OD
P 733 F8
P+ 733 F8
31 Mar 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from W to P between 22 & 23 May 44 and from P
to P+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Lost 8 Sep 44 - ditched in the North Sea, about 70 miles north-east of
Scarborough, Yorkshire. (Karlsruhe) MACR 15217
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95086 O+ 735 H6 SQUEE-GEE
NMF
O 735 H6
First trace: 11 May 44 when assigned to Crew Chief M/Sgt Harold H Fox.
Individual aircraft letter changed from O+ to O bar below between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 29 Jan 45 or earlier.
467th Sub-Depot determined fuel leak 21 - 23 Feb 45.
Force-landed 25 Feb 45 with a shell hole through the left wing at Dijon, France.
(Giebelstadt) Salvaged on the Continent 28 Feb 45.
IARC shows this aircraft as RZI, arriving at Altus, OK, on 3 Jul 45. Consequently,
despite being listed as salvaged, it was flown back to the ZI.
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B-24H-20 DT 42-51087 R 733 F8 HOT STUFF
NMF
R+ 733 F8 DUCHESS
Individual aircraft letter changed from R to R+ between 7 & 13 Jul 44.
Named HOT STUFF on the starboard side and also known as DUCHESS.
Repaired at Manston, Kent, 14 - 27 Oct 44 (#1 engine) following mechanical
failure on the 14 Oct 44 mission to Kaiserlautern.
Repaired at Bradwell Bay, Essex, 17 & 18 Feb 45 - hydraulic system damaged on
16 Feb 45 mission to Bergsteinfurt.
Transferred to 389th BG after 8 Apr 45 and RZI 21 May 45.
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B-24H-20 DT 42-51089 V 733 F8 STAR EYES
NMF
V+ 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from V to V+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Repaired at Manston, Kent, 26 May - 3 Jun 44 - surface changes, hydraulic
system, battle damage on 25 May 44 mission to Troyes, France.
Landed at Brussels-Melsbroek to re-fuel on return from 1 Jan 45 mission to
Remagen.
Photo taken at A-93 Liège/Bieset, Belgium, on page 214 of "The Mighty Eighth The Colour Record".
Lost 10 Apr 45 - received a direct hit by flak over Wittenburg, broke in two, blew
up and went down in flames, disintegrating with the tail coming off. (Rechlin)
MACR 14443
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B-24J-135 CO 42-110089 E+ 734 E8 STRICTLY BUSINESS
OD
N- 734 E8
ex 491st BG - first trace in 453rd BG: 6 Jun 44.
See also 44-10577 with the same name.
Individual aircraft letter changed from E+ to N- between 7 & 12 Jul 44.
Lost 11 Aug 44 - ditched 10 miles south east of North Foreland, Kent. (Strasbourg,
France) MACR 16006
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B-24H-20 DT 42-51096 A 734 E8 HUSTLIN' HUSSY
NMF
F- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from A to F- between 8 & 11 May 44.
Repaired at Manston, Kent, 5 - 25 Nov 44 - #4 engine and battle damage on 5
Nov 44 aborted mission to Karlesruhe.
Transferred to 446th BG after 10 Apr 45 and RZI in Jun 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95099 Q 733 F8 RAG DOLL
NMF
Q+ 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from Q to Q+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Shown on Form No 8 for Mission 157 (7 Oct 44) as MIA but the pilot (Fischer) flew
more missions from 12 Oct 44 and IARC mentions "Repaired 30 Nov 44".
Flew missions again with 453rd BG from 21 Jan 45.
Last trace: 28 Feb 45 - landed at Le Bourget (A-54, AAF 385), near Paris, France.
RZI - arrived Bradley Field on 17 Jun 45.
RFC Altus (OK) 17 Oct 45.
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B-24J-135 CO 42-110100 O 733 F8 SWEDE, THE
OD
S 733 F8 MAYTAG
I+ 733 F8
I 732 E3
First trace: 8 Apr 44. Assignment 31 Mar 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from O to S on 25 Jun 44 (according to formation
diagram, retained call letter O on 24 Jun 44 mission although 42-110138 had
already taken call letter O while 42-110100 was being
repaired after damage on 8 May 44 mission). Again changed from S to I+ between
8 & 11 Jul 44.
Transferred from 733rd to 732nd BS between 16 Jan & 3 Feb 45.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 19 Oct 44 or earlier.
Landed on one wheel at Watton on return from the 8 May 44 mission to Brunswick
but was repaired - see page 19 of 453rd BGA Newsletter Mar 99.
Crashed 3 Mar 45 at Jouy-le-Potier, 15km S of Orleans, France, after crew bailed
out near A-50 (Orléans-Bricy, France) - see page 24 of No 2, Vol 7, 453rd BGA
Newsletter. (Magdeburg) Salvaged battle damaged 1 Apr 45 by 5 SAD.
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B-24H-20 DT 42-51102 NMF
F P 732 E3 732 E3
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JUG HEAD
First trace: 23 May 44 as a spare that was not used.
Individual aircraft letter changed from F bar below to P between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Crashed 31 Jan 45 at Old Buckenham - according to Form No 8, it ran off the
runway on an instrument take off and cracked up. As a result, 13 other aircraft
were unable to take off. (Hallendorf - mission recalled)
Salvaged 31 Jan 45, according to 3 SAD Field Engineering salvage list which
indicates that left main landing gear gave out. (USAF HRC Report of Aircraft
Salvaged erroneously states that the incident occurred on the date of Operation
No 811 (29 Jan 45), that the date of salvage was 30 Jan 45 and that the main
landing gear collapsed on landing.)
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95102 H- 734 E8 SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME
NMF
Repaired at Snetterton Heath 25 - 31 Dec 44 - hydraulic and electrical systems
and battle damage (according to Form No.8, landed at Woodbridge on 24 Dec 44
mission.)
467th Sub-Depot changed main fuel cell and carried out general maintenance 3 5 Feb 45.
467th Sub-Depot carried out sheet metal work and checked the nose gear 10 - 15
Feb 45 following a mid-air collision on 9 Feb 45 (on return) with 42-50703 THE
WORRY BIRD which crashed and burned and was salvaged.
Repaired at Snetterton Heath 24 & 25 Feb 45 - # 2 engine.
93 missions but at least 119 mission symbols (bombs) were displayed.
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B-24H-25 DT 42-51108 D 732 E3 ARROWHEAD
NMF
O 732 E3
Individual aircraft letter changed from D to O between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Survived the war with 110 or 113 missions.
Transferred to 44th BG after 10 Apr 45 and RZI 28 or 31 May 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95111 P 733 F8 PORKY
NMF
K+ 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from P to K+ between 7 & 17 Jul 44.
Lost 13 Sep 44 - pulled out of the formation over Eich, received a burst of flak
almost directly and went down in a spin with the cockpit in flames at Biblis, near
Worms. (Weissenhorn) MACR 8853
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B-24H-25 DT 42-51112 R 733
NMF
H+ 733
First trace: 6 Jun 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from R to H+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
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Crashed 31 Mar 45 near Wesel at a place named Tünern (not found on maps seen
- according to John Hey, it may have been Tüddern, a small village on the
German-Dutch border, approx. 25 km NE of Maastricht) after being hit by a Me
262 and reporting two engines out. Trailing the formation, it dropped out at the
Dümmer Lake area and attempted to land in Allied controlled territory.
(Brunswick) MACR 13735
Salvaged battle damaged on the Continent 15 Apr 45 by 5 SAD.
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B-24H-25 DT 42-51114 Q 733
WHISKEY JINGLES
NMF
J+ 733
Individual aircraft letter changed from Q to J+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 3 Feb 45 or earlier.
Repaired at Manston, Kent, 20 Dec 44 - 6 Jan 45 - #2 engine - damaged on 19
Dec 44 mission to Bitburg, near Trier.
RZI with 466th BG on Operation "Home Run".
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B-24J-135 CO 42-110138 O 733 F8 FLYING BULL
OD
O+ 733 F8 BUFFALO
Probably this is the aircraft said to be named BUFFALO.
ex 491st BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 10 Jun 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from O to O+ between 29 Jun & 18 Jul 44.
Lost 16 Aug 44 - shot down over the Netherlands on the way home. (Dessau)
MACR 8424
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52139 B+ 734
BRINEY MARLIN
OD
Original airplane.
Individual aircraft letter unknown but may have been B+.
Lost 20 Feb 44 - was attacked by enemy fighters 10 minutes beyond the target
after bombs away, caught fire, exploded in mid-air and went down near
Göttingen. (Brunswick) MACR 2780
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52147 M 732 E3 PUG
OD
shark nose
Original airplane (pesky # 582).
Aborted 20 Feb 44 mission and made an emergency landing at Thorpe Abbotts.
Lost 8 May 44 - shot down by German fighters. Crashed at Hassbergen, 12 km SE
of Hoya/Weser, in the direction of Anderten. (Brunswick) MACR 4593
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B-24HSH-25 DT 42-51149 U+ 733 F8 BLOOD AND GUTS
NMF
ex 389th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 24 Aug 44.
Received by 453rd BG between 15 & 23 Aug 44.
Ceased to be used as an H2X lead airplane (PFF) after 11 Dec 44.
467th Sub-Depot determined fuel leak 8 - 10 Feb 45.
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Lost 17 Feb 45 - ditched in the North Sea approximately 9 miles due north of
Cromer after icing-up on return from a mission to Magdeburg which was recalled
before reaching the enemy coast. MACR 16087
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B-24J-140 CO 42-110149 Z 733 F8 MARY HARRIET
OD
Z+ 733 F8
ex 491st BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 8 Jun 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from Z to Z+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
On the 25 Sep 44 mission to Koblenz, after bombs away, the formation lost
altitude and began to gain speed for the trip back to England. At this point a B-17
and this aircraft were involved in a mid-air collision in which this aircraft had
some 6ft of wing torn away. Landed at Manston, Kent, where it was repaired 25
Sep - 10 Oct 44 - left wing panel, left aileron.
Landing accident 17 Dec 44.
Assigned to 458th BG on Operation "Home Run".
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52154 G+ 734 E8 MALE CALL
OD
G- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from G+ to G- between 30 Apr & 25 May 44.
Landing accident 24 Aug 44 at Bovingdon. Repaired 3 - 25 Sep 44 - nose and tail
damaged by flack. Landing accident 21 Nov 44.
Repaired at Thorpe Abbotts 11 - 17 Mar 45 - #1 engine - damaged on 10 Mar 45
mission to Paderborn.
Completed 95 missions and said to be the only survivor of the original 61 ships
(but see 41-28631 and 42-64452)
Probably transferred to 44th BG whose 67th BS included aircraft 154 (Pilot's name:
Lee) in its inventory as of 21 May 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95166 O- 735 H6 GALLOPING GHOST
NMF
M 735 H6 CENTURY QUEEN
Unk 734
First trace: 11 May 44. Named GALLOPING GHOST when it landed at Kenley in Jan
45. Individual aircraft letter changed from O- to M between 8 & 11 Jul 44. Transferred from 735th to 734th BS on 1 Apr 45.
Fitted with RCM from 15 Oct 44 or earlier.
Landed with #4 feathered at Manston, Kent, on 17 Jul 44, where it was repaired 20
- 26 Jul 44 - #4 engine. Landed badly shot up by flak at Woodbridge, Suffolk, on
11 Sep 44 where it was repaired 12 - 28 Sep 44 -
hydraulic system, battle damage. Landed at Brussels, Belgium, due to lack of fuel on 30 Nov 44 mission to
Homburg. Aircraft of the 453rd
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Landed at Kenley, Surrey, on 15 Jan 45, where it was repaired 17 Jan - 4 Feb 45 #4 engine.
467th Sub-Depot carried out modification 9 - 12 Feb 45.
Survived war with 106 missions. Last trace with 453rd BG 9 Apr 45.
RZI - arrived US 15 Jun 45. RFC Altus (OK) Oct 45.
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95167 A+ 734 E8 NEVER MRS
NMF
A- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from A+ to A- between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Landed safely 8 Sep 44 at A-67 (Vitry, France), having sustained flak damage. Was
repaired.
Fitted with RCM equipment from 14 Oct 44 or earlier.
Lost 11 Nov 44 - bomb bay caught fire over the Ruhr valley on 70th mission after
being hit by flak. Just before bombs away, a wing came off when the plane went
into a dive and crashed between Buer and Essen. (Bottrop) MACR 10342
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52169 J+ 734 E8 LUCKY PENNY
OD
LOST & FOUND DEPT.
Original airplane.
See also 42-95312, the second LUCKY PENNY.
Coincidentally 491st BG had 42-110169 with the same last three and the name
LUCKY PENNY.
Lost 8 May 44 - attacked by fighters, # 2 engine caught fire and the fire spread to
all parts of the aircraft, which exploded and went down at Feldmark Buehne, 5 km
NW of Osterwieck and 19 km NE of Goslar, near
Stotterlinger. (Brunswick) MACR 4594
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95171 J- 734 E8 DIANA-MITE
NMF
Lost 21 Jul 44 when it collided in mid-air with 41-29259 in the Karlsruhe area.
Both aircraft exploded. It is not clear whether the collision occurred before or after
the formation was ordered to turn about to bomb Saarbrücken marshalling yards
when it ran up against a towering cloud front. (Munich) MACR 7253
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B-24H-25 FO 42-95173 C+ 734 E8 SKY CHIEF
NMF
Q- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from C+ to Q- between 8 & 16 Jul 44.
Force landed 24 Dec 44 at Cambrai-Niergnies, France, - the plane was hit several
times near the target, dropped on time, plastered the target and limped out with #
1 engine out, # 4 engine feathered, # 2 turbo out and # 2 & # 3 leaking oil badly.
(Mayen) Salvaged 11 Mar 45 on the Continent by 5 SAD.
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B-24J-150 CO 44-40173 K 735 H6 OUR BABY
NMF
F+ 733 F8
ERNIE'S BEAVERS
ex 492nd BG with which it flew 20 missions and was named ERNIE'S BEAVERS
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and/or T S - first trace with 453rd BG: 12 Aug 44.
See also 41-29259 named OUR BABY.
Transferred from 735th to 733rd BS on 1 Apr 45.
Waist windows with gun socket mounted and a Fairchild compensating sight on
both guns were fitted 27 Oct - 3 Nov 44.
Nose turret changed from Consolidated MPC A-6B to Emerson A-15 probably at
the same time or during Dec 44 (no missions between 4 & 19 Dec 44).
Transferred to 466th BG (RZI with 466th BG on Operation "Home Run").
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52174 K+ 734 E8 HOO JIVE
OD
K- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from K+ to K- between 8 & 23 May 44.
Repaired at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire 24 - 28 Jun 44 - #3 engine damaged on 24
Jun 44 mission to Brétigny, France.
Landed on return from 17 Jul 44 mission to Belfort, France, at Manston, Kent,
having lost # 1 engine over the target and low on fuel. Repaired there 18 & 19 Jul
44 - engine trouble.
Lost 25 Aug 44 - landed at Bulltofta (Malmo), SWEDEN, - having been hit by flak
shortly after making landfall and having developed engine trouble, the plane was
forced to drop out of the formation and instead of carrying on to the target
(Wismar), it bombed Kiel docks. MACR 8293
Brought back to BAD 1, Burtonwood, Lancashire, 7 or 12 Jul 45.
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52175 P+ 735
PORTLAND ANNIE
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 8 Mar 44 flown by 732 Sqn pilot (Lt Ehrman) and crew - hence probably the
belief that 732 Sqn had an aircraft named PORTLAND ANNE – force-landed 2 km
south-east of Meppen, near Balkbrug, Netherlands, after being hit by flak over
Berlin. (Berlin-Erkner) MACR 2928
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52176 N 733 F8 VALKYRIE
OD
Original airplane.
Landed at Watton on 26 Mar 44.
Crashed and burned 8 May 44 at Long Stratton in a thicket after being abandoned
on return. (Brunswick) Salvaged 13 & 14 May 44.
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B-24H-10 FO 42-52178 Unk 735
LITTLE AGNES
OD
Original airplane.
Crashed 6 Feb 44 at Abbey Farm, Old Buckenham, on take-off. Flew into the
ground on take off due to mechanical failure of #1 and #4 engines and struck a
ditch. Two 500 lb bombs exploded as the plane crashed resulting in its complete
destruction. (Siracourt, France) Salvaged 6 & 7 Feb 44.
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B-24H-1 CF 41-29179
OD
ex Air Service Command where used as mock-up ship for proposed modifications
at Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland. Not suitable for combat. May have been the "Prototype ditching aircraft" (serial quoted by Roger Freeman:
41-28179) recorded on 7 Mar 44 as "not assigned to 2nd BD.
Recorded on 9 Jul 44 as having never flown on operations.
Became 2nd Bomb Division VHF radio relay and air-sea rescue control plane from
Jul 44. Recorded on 9 Jul 44 that it was proposed to rotate assignment of aircraft
among Groups. 458th BG on 12 Jun 44.
In 453rd BG mission records seen, it appears only on formation plans for the
Group's 12 & 15 Oct 44 missions, the one for the latter mentioning "VHF - 179 Markovic". Lt (or Capt?) Francis X Markovic Jr was a 453rd BG pilot assigned to
732nd Sqn who completed his 35 missions four days later. Was at BAD 3, Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland. Transferred to 496th Fighter Training Group at Halesworth.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52180 F+ 734 E8 LIL EIGHT BALL
OD
Lost 8 Apr 44 with a 733rd BS crew - shot down by enemy fighters - exploded,
disintegrating in mid air as it dived, the wreckage going down at Elmendorf in
Oldenburg, 4 km NW of Bad Zwischenahn. (Brunswick) MACR 3927
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52182 V+ 735
RUMPLESTILSKIN
OD
Call letter may have been V+ but see also 42-64453 V+.
Crashed 23 Feb 44 at Thorpe Abbotts on landing in fog and ice on a woodchipped runway, having flown from Old Buckenham to pick up 42-52147 M (732nd
BS) PUG, which had made an emergency landing when aborting a mission on 20
Feb 44. Salvaged 24 & 25 Feb 44 - overshot runway.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52185 D 732 E3 LITTLE JOE
OD
shark nose
Named LITTLE JOE (as reported to 2nd Bomb Div. on 26 Mar 44 and as in photo in
possession of Roger Freeman) but also named SON OF THE BEACH (as reported to
2nd Bomb Div. on 22 Feb 44).
Lost 8 Apr 44 - shot down by enemy fighters - last sighted near Salzwedel.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52186 O+ 735 H6
OD
Original airplane.
Repaired at Great Saling (Andrewsfield), Essex, 22 - 28 Feb 44 – battle damage where it landed after being hit by armour piercing shells on 20 Feb 44 mission to
Brunswick.
Page 1
D5
Lost 9 May 44 - went down at Arendonk, Belgium, between Turnhout and the
Netherlands border - not in formation, it was shot down by a fighter. (Florennes)
MACR 4595
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52191 N+ 735
LILLIE BELLE
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 6 Mar 44 - ditched in the North Sea on return. (Berlin-Genshagen) MACR
2969
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52196 A+ 734
WAR BRIDE
OD
A- 734 E8
Original airplane.
Taxiing accident 2 Feb 44. Repaired at Manston, Kent, 3 Feb 44 by Sub-Depot
(Roger Freeman has a photo dated 2 Feb 44 right main landing gear collapsed).
Last trace with 453rd BG: 20 Jun 44.
Transferred to Air Transport Command (possibly after conversion to CB-24) and
lost 9 Sep 44 over Norway (on the internee run to Sweden?).
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52201 L 732 E3 BATTLE PACKAGE
OD
shark nose
No name visible on starboard side of nose but it appears to have a shark nose on a
photo taken on 20 Apr 44 in lead position with EL FLAKO in deputy lead position
and KEN O KAY II. However, it does not have a shark nose in the photo on page 71
of "In Search of Peace".
Lost 11 Jul 44 - ditched in the North Sea, 38 miles off Great Yarmouth. (Munich)
MACR 8715
!
B-24H-30 DT 42-51204 O- 734 E8
NMF
First trace: 6 Oct 44.
467th Sub-Depot carried out sheet metal work 26 & 27 Feb 45.
Transferred to 467th BG and RZI '45.
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95206 G 732 E3 OHIO SILVER
NMF
J 732 E3
Accepted 28 Mar 44, delivered Birmingham 31 Mar 44, departed Birmingham 24
Apr 44, departed US 7 May 44, first trace with 453rd BG: 28 May 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from G to J between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Survived the war with 107 combat missions.
RZI Jun 45 - Cincinnati OH 27 Jun 45, Altus OK 28 Jun - 20 Sep 44. Disposed of in
Oct 45 by Reconstruction Finance Corp.
!
B-24H-5 CF 41-29210 -X 733
Page 1
D6
HEAVENLY BODY
OD
M 733
T 733 F8
T+ 733 F8
Original airplane.
Individual aircraft letter changed from -X to M between 25 Feb & 6 Mar 44, from
M to T between 6 & 18 Mar 44 (shown as I on some documents for 3 Mar 44
mission but this may be an error) and from T to T+ between 8 & 16 Jul 44.
Repaired at Hawkinge, Kent, 1 - 20 May 44 - #2 & #4 engines and battle damage
on 27 Apr 44 mission to Blainville, France.
Last trace in 453rd BG: 17 Sep 44 (truckin' mission) but shown as an Old
Buckenham aircraft when flown by a 389th BG crew on a 21 Sep 44 truckin'
mission out of Horsham St Faith.
RZI. RFC Altus OK 7 Aug 45.
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95214 Z- 735 H6 WANDERING WANDA
NMF
Z 735 H6 PIN UP PIP
Unk 732 E3
Was named either PIN UP PIP changed to WANDERING WANDA or had both names
simultaneously.
Individual aircraft letter changed from Z- to Z between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Transferred from 735th BS to 732nd BS on 1 Apr 45.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 19 Dec 44 or earlier.
467th Sub-Depot carried out sheet metal work 26 & 27 Feb 45 - damaged on 25
Feb 45 mission to Giebelstadt.
Survived the war with 117 missions (113 in 735th BS and 4 in 732nd BS).
Last trace: 10 Apr 45.
Transferred to 392nd BG.
B-24H-25 FO 42-95216 H 732 E3 BECKY
NMF
BILLIE MAE
Name changed from BILLIE MAE to BECKY (or LITTLE BECKY) after the Crew Chief,
M/Sgt Albert V Coswell's, new baby. Also said to have been named BLACK WIDOW.
Picture of young child painted on port side of nose between end Sep and end Dec
44.
Landed on 16 Jan 45 at A-81, Creil, France.
Landed on 1 Mar 45 at A-84, Chièvres, Belgium.
Landed on 4 Apr 45 at A-90, Toul/Croix de Metz, France.
Completed 98 missions and aborted only 3 times.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52218 O 733 F8
OD
Original airplane (pesky # x35).
Crashed and burned 18 Mar 44 between Kilndown and Goudhurst, Kent, on return
(Friedrichshafen)- Pilot: Lt S D Kelly of 734th BS. Salvaged 27 & 28 Mar 44.
!
!
Page 1
D7
B-24H-10 FO 42-52226 E+ 734
BETTY BOOP
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 6 Mar 44 - shot down by a fighter on return and crashed in the Ijsselmeer, 2
miles north of Edam, Netherlands. (Berlin-Genshagen) MACR 2970
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95233 E 732 E3
NMF
-
This aircraft may have been named PAY DAY but the name is more likely to have
been associated with the aircraft in error because it superseded the original PAY
DAY (41-28938) as E in 732nd BS.
Lost 24 Jun 44 - hit by flak, it blew up while crossing the coast over Coxyde,
Belgium, on the way out and went down at Oostduinkerke, 6 km west of
Nieuwpoort, Belgium. (Pont-à-Vendin, France) MACR 6233
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52234 D+ 733 F8 CORKY
OD
N 733 F8 BURGUNDY BOMBERS
N+ 733 F8
W+ 733 F8
Initially thought to have been transferred from 734th to 733rd BS before 15 Feb
44 (flew no missions with 734th BS). This would explain its individual aircraft letter
D+ but, in fact, it was an original 733rd BS aircraft flown
to UK by 1/Lt John A Nortridge and his crew. Letter changed from D+ to N
between 11 & 25 May 44, from N to N+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44 and from N+ to W
+ between 19 Jul & 14 Oct 44. (Was W+ on 20 Jul but again N+ on 24 Jul 44
according to some mission documents!!!)
Landed safely 8 Sep 44 in France having sustained flak damage. Was repaired.
Had "MISS ELLA MAE" on its nose as well as "BILLSO" which, according to Bob
Jordan, was the nickname of Bill Eagleson, the Bombardier.
Transferred to 446th BG after 23 Feb 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52237 C+ 734 E8 PAPER DOLL
OD
D- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from C+ to D- between 1 & 25 May 44. Also said
to have been Q- but this seems unlikely and, in any event, would have been after
24 Dec 44, date of loss of 42-95173 Q- SKY CHIEF.
Last trace in 453rd BG: 13 Sep 44 mission but shown as an Old Buckenham aircraft
when flown by a 389th BG crew on a 21 Sep 44 truckin' mission out of Horsham St
Faith.
Salvaged war weary 29 May 45 by BAD 3, Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52240 OD
Original airplane.
T+ 735 H6
Page 1
D8
Lost 9 Apr 44 - landed at Rinkaby, near Kristianstad, SWEDEN, flown by a 732nd
BS crew - had only 2 hours' fuel left. (Tutow) MACR 3925
Left Sweden 4 Jun 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52244 Z+ 735 H6 BLACK JED
OD
Original airplane.
On 6 Mar 44 mission to Berlin, the pilot (Lt Bill Adams) was wounded by flak.
Lost 9 Apr 44 - landed at Rinkaby, near Kristianstad, SWEDEN. (Tutow) MACR 3921
!
B-24H-5 CF 41-29249 M+ 734 E8 LONESOME POLECAT
OD
M- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from M+ to M- between 9 & 20 May 44.
Last trace: 13 Sep 44.
!
B-24H-5 CF 41-29250 Y+ 735 H6 OLD BUTCH
OD
Y- 735 H6 BUTCH
Y 735 H6
Original aircraft (pesky # 519).
Was named OLD BUTCH or BUTCH.
Individual aircraft letter (originally R+ on some documents) changed from Y+ to
Y- between 8 May & 6 Jun 44 and from Y- to Y between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Lost 27 Sep 44 - blaze in # 2 engine then one more went out and plane dropped
back trying to make Brussels but went down in flames after all ten crew bailed out
over front lines. (Kassel) An entry in records on 12 Nov 44 merely states that the
plane had gone missing on operations without giving a date.
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95252 B+ 734 E8 SHACK HAPPY
NMF
O- 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from B+ to O- between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 21 - 23 Jun 44 - No. 4 propeller, hydraulic
system damaged on 21 Jun 44 mission to Berlin/Nordban.
Hit by flak, returned to base and landed without hydraulics on 6 Aug 44 mission to
Hamburg - repaired by Sub-Depot during next 10 days.
Lost 2 Oct 44 - trailed the Group over the target and 30 seconds after bombs
away, burst into a sheet of flames and broke into two, having been hit behind the
top turret by a bomb dropped by a 389th BG aircraft and which
went through the fuselage without exploding. The tail broke off and the two parts
spiralled down to crash at Pelkum, near the target. (Hamm) MACR 9418
!
B-24H-5 CF 41-29254 O+ 734
OD
Original airplane.
Crash landed 10 Feb 44 at Ash Hill Farm, Hilgay, near Southery, on return. (GilzeRijen) Salvaged 11 & 12 Feb 44.
Page D
19
!
B-24H-5 CF 41-29257 L+ 734 E8 NOTRE DAME
OD
L- 734 E8
Original airplane.
Named NOTRE DAME on the starboard side (photo on page 238 of "In Search of
Peace" and in Roger Freeman's collection).
Individual aircraft letter changed from L+ to L- between 11 & 24 May 44.
Crash-landed 30 May 44 at Halesworth with one engine burned out, the fire
having broken out over the sea, necessitating the mission to be aborted. Two waist
gunners baled out and were rescued safely. (Oldenburg)
Salvaged 31 May 44 at Halesworth, Suffolk - severe operational damage.
!
B-24H-10 CF 41-29259 M
733
LITTLE MIKE
OD
B+ 734 E8
B- 734 E8
Original airplane. Transferred from 733rd BS (individual aircraft letter possibly M) to 734th BS (flown
to Morrison Field (FL) and thence probably to UK by 2/Lt Patrick D Tobin and his
733rd BS crew). Its first combat mission was in 734th BS on 20 Mar 44. The cause
of its non-participation in the Group's first 20 missions is unknown.
Individual aircraft letter changed from B+ to B- on 10 May 44.
Lost 21 Jul 44 when it collided in mid-air with 42-95171 in the Karlsruhe area.
Both aircraft exploded. It is not clear whether the collision occurred before or after
the formation was ordered to turn about to bomb Saarbrücken railway yards when
it ran up against a towering cloud front. The aircraft crashed near Darmsheim, 12
miles SW of Stuttgart. (Munich) MACR 7252
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95267 E+ 734 E8 SILVER QUEEN
NMF
Transferred to 491st BG after 30 May 44 and almost immediately (between 1 & 6
Jun 44) to 489th BG.
!
B-24H-25 FO 42-95276 O 733 F8 MY BABS
NMF
L+ 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from O bar to L+ between 7 & 12 Jul 44.
Taxiing accident 26 Sep 44.
Survived the war with 120 missions.
Last trace: 10 Apr 45 when it was unaccounted for.
RZI. RFC Altus OK 28 Sep 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52277 OD
Q T
Q 733
733
733 F8
Page D
20
SHACK RABBIT II
Individual aircraft letter quoted as T on some mission documents between 3 & 5
Mar 44.
Probably the B-24H FO with the name SHACK RABBIT II on the starboard side of
the nose. SHACK RABBIT II also had the pesky number 564 stencilled between the
nose turret and bombardier's window.
Lost 23 Mar 44 - dropped bombs, headed north at Uchte and went down at Amelo
or Hardenberg, Netherlands. (Handorf) MACR 3553
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50278 F+ 734 E8
OD
Assignment under 2 BD Operations Order #28 dated 18 Apr 44 confirming VOCG
15 Apr 44.
Lost 8 May 44 - the formation was attacked by waves of German fighters after
bombing. This aircraft collided in mid-air with 42-110025 at 20,000 ft near
Hameln and exploded, going down 2 km NW of Salzdahlum. (Brunswick) MACR
4591
!
B-24J-155 CO 44-40292 N+ 735 H6 HATTIE BELLE
NMF
N 735 H6
Unk 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from N+ to N between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Survived the war with between 112 & 116 missions. (According to 735th BS
records, it flew 108 missions, excluding 3 aborts, with that Squadron, the last
being on 31 Mar 45. It also flew 6 missions with 733rd BS. However, according to
"Lee" Quesnel, a member of Joe Miele's ground crew, HATTIE BELLE was retired in
early 1945 after 116 missions and 2,000 flight hours without an abortion - see
page 17 of Vol 4 No 1 of The 453rd Bomb Group Association Newsletter).
RZI. RFC Altus OK 15 Oct 45.
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50296 A 732 E3 FORD'S FOLLY
OD
shark nose
Repaired at Manston, Kent, 13 - 20 Jul 44 - #4 engine damaged on 13 Jul 44
mission to Saarbrücken.
Crashed and burned 10 Jan 45 in a wood at Rushford Hall, Rushford, east of
Thetford, after the crew bailed out over East Harling. (Steinbrück)
Salvaged 12 & 13 Jan 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52296 E 732 E3 RIP TIDE
OD
shark nose
Landing accident 12 Feb 44 at Old Buckenham (Pilot: Frederick Campbell)
First combat mission: 8 Apr 44 (but was an original airplane - pesky # 627).
Page D
21
Possibly also named EHRMAN'S BEATS - an aircraft of this name was flown to
England by Lt Everett G Ehrman and his crew # 11. It is said to have flown 105 missions and to have been discarded at the end of the
war by bulldozing.
42-52296 flew only 36 combat missions (the last on 13 Sep 44) but it does seem
to have been retained by 453rd BG after that date because 42-50296 is quoted as
0296 (presumably to distinguish it from 2296) well after that
date.
Repaired at Ford (Yapton), Sussex, 28 Jul - 12 Aug 44 - # 4 engine damaged on
28 Jul 44 mission.
Last trace with 453rd BG: 13 Sep 44 but see above.
!
B-24J-155 CO 44-40297 X- 735 H6 SILENT YOKUM
NMF
X 735 H6
Unk 734 E8
Individual aircraft letter changed from X bar to X bar below between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Transferred from 735th to 734th BS on 1 Apr 45.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 29 & 30 Jan 45 - hydraulic system – after landing
there on return from 28 Jan 45 mission to Dortmund.
Landed at Chièvres, Belgium, (735th Sqn Engineering Office records state it landed
in France) on 11 Feb 45 mission to Dülmen - next mission with 735th Sqn was 3
Mar 45.
Transferred to 392nd BG after 11 Apr 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52298 H 732 E3 CHOO CHOO BABY
OD
JELLY BELLY
Original airplane.
According to Frank Hendershot, Navigator with Keith Hamby's crew, the latter
named the plane JELLY BELLY.
Landed at Watton on 26 Mar 44 - next combat mission: 30 Apr 44.
Lost 8 May 44 - either rammed by a German fighter whose pilot is believed to
have been dead at the controls or riddled by shots from German fighters and went
down 10 km W of Celle, 1 km NE of Ovelgönne. (Brunswick) MACR 4596
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52299 B 732 E3 HARD T'GET
OD
shark nose
Original airplane.
Seriously damaged on the 6 Mar 44 mission to Berlin-Genshagen - ran off runway
on return (no shark nose visible on photo of landed plane on grass).
Lost 1 Aug 44 - went down in the English Channel on return after the crew bailed
out and abandoned it, on fire, over the Ashford area, Kent, (Montereau, France)
!
B-24M-1 FO 44-50299
NMF
Page D
22
No trace on any 453rd BG formation diagrams but received by 491st BG from
453rd BG on 18 Apr 45.
!
B-24H-10 CF 41-29301 G 732 E3 VAMPIN' VERA
OD
R 732 E3 shark nose
S- 734 E8
Z 732 E3
Original airplane.
Individual aircraft letter changed from G to R between 9 Jul & 9 Sep 44, from R to
S- between 9 & 17 Sep 44 and changed later to Z (war weary).
Repaired at East Fortune, East Lothian, Scotland, 14 Jul - 3 Aug 44 – repair nose
wheel (last previous mission: 8 Jul 44 which was aborted with #2 feathered).
Last trace in 453rd BG: 17 Sep 44 (truckin' mission) but shown as an Old
Buckenham aircraft when flown by a 389th BG crew (Burkett) on a 21 Sep 44
truckin' mission out of Attlebridge.
Declared war weary.
RZI - was at Altus, OK, on 29 Oct 45.
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50301 T+ 735 H6 SWEET SUE
OD
T- 735 H6
T 735 H6
Individual aircraft letter changed from T+ to T- between 9 & 11 May 44 and from
T- to T between 8 & 17 Jul 44.
Crash landed 5 Nov 44 at Bungay - weather interfered with pilot's vision and he
found himself landing half way down the runway, unable to take off again and
unable to stop the aircraft in time with the result that it ran off the
runway. (Karlsruhe) Salvaged battle damaged 6 Nov 44 by 3 SAD – landing gear
pulled out.
!
B-24J-5 DT 42-51301 T+ 733
RUTH MARIE
NMF
Arrived in England on 26 Jul 44. First trace with 453rd BG: 21 Sep 44.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 19 Oct 44 - hydraulic system (entered on 3 SAD
Field Engineering repair list for 466th BG but this is an error because 42-51301 is
recorded on 453rd BG formation diagram for that day's mission).
Completed 75 missions.
Transferred to 491st BG (assuming this is the airplane entered as '501 in the North
Pickenham control tower log on 21 Apr 45). RZI Jun 45.
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52301 OD
Original airplane.
C 732 E3 KEN O KAY II
shark nose
Page 2
D3
Lost 29 Apr 44 - ditched 30 miles due east of Great Yarmouth after being
damaged by German fighters and flak - was running out of gas. (Berlin) MACR
4940
!
B-24H-10 FO 42-52302 F OD
Original airplane.
Lost 25 Feb 44. (Fürth) MACR 2802
732
KEN O KAY
!
B-24H-30 FO 42-95303 D+ 734 E8 CROW'S NEST
NMF
P- 734 E8
Unk 734 E8
First trace in 453rd BG: 29 May 44.
Brought over by a 448th BG replacement crew (Pilot: Lt Lawnicki) under a
Movement Order dated 4 May 44, but plane and crew were separated on arrival in
the UK.
Crew Chief: T/Sgt Clinton G Colvin.
Individual aircraft letter changed from D+ to P- between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
First abort on 61st mission (453rd BG mission #153 - 2 Oct 44).
On 81st (not 101st) mission (24 Dec 44) an engine was lost and the pilot (Lt
Rollins) force landed at Athies/Laon, France. Flew back to Old Buckenham a
couple of weeks before 453rd BG were taken off operational status and flew on
missions on 8, 9 & 10 Apr 45.
Transferred to 93rd BG.
!
B-24J-5 DT 42-51304 U- 734
NMF
ex 36th BS - 2nd Organisation - to which it was assigned as a radio bomb release
aircraft - first trace with 453rd BG: 15 Feb 45.
Individual aircraft letter probably U- (not J-).
453rd BG Divisional insignia painted on and modification carried out by 467th Sub
Depot, Old Buckenham, 15 & 16 Feb 45.
Last trace with 453rd BG: 24 Mar 45 when it landed on the Continent with one
crewman KIA.
RZI 17 Jun 45 after transfer to another Group (Identity unknown but possibly 491st
BG as 17 Jun 45 was one of their departure dates. However, a photo of BIG GAS
BIRD taken at Willow Run in 1945 shows this airplane in the background with no
apparent tail markings other than the serial on the inner surfaces.)
!
B-24MHO-5 FO 44-50310
NMF
No trace on any formation diagrams.
Transferred to 445th BG.
!
B-24H-30 FO 42-95312 NMF
C- 734 E8 Aircraft of the 453rd
Page D
24
LUCKY PENNY II
This was the second LUCKY PENNY (shown as LUCKY PENNY II on the starboard
side). The first was 42-52169 lost 8 May 44.
Lost 17 Oct 44 - at bombs away it sustained flak damage, limped onward until it
crossed the battle line at 1500 ft and after being abandoned by the crew who
landed near Spa, Belgium, the plane crashed a short distance away near Malmédy,
Belgium, on its 63rd mission. (Cologne)
(Entered in some records on 8 Dec 44 as missing in action)
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50317 E+ 734 E8 BALLS O' FIRE
OD
E- 734 E8
Probably named BALLS O'FIRE because this is the airplane most likely to
correspond to the one with this name described by Frank Thomas on page 141 of
"8th Air Force at War" by Martin W Bowman.
Departed the USA on 10 Apr 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from E+ to E- between 9 & 27 May 44.
Landed at Florennes, Belgium, 5 Jan 45 with engine trouble.
467th Sub-Depot repaired top turret plexiglass dome 5 & 6 Feb 45 (last previous
mission: 5 Jan 45).
RZI 11 Jul 45.
!
B-24LHO-5 FO 44-49318 S 735 H6
NMF
ex 389th BG between 25 Feb & 7 Mar 45.
Flew on missions with 735th BS from 8 Mar 45 through 10 Apr 45 when it was
unaccounted for.
Disassembled at 1 SAD, Honington, Suffolk, - see photo on page 204 of
"Consolidated B-24 Liberator" by John M & Donna Campbell.
!
B-24LHO-5 FO 44-49321 J- 734 E8 HERBY
NMF
P 735 H6
Named HERBY after transfer to 93rd BG.
First trace in mission documents: 7 Mar 45.
467th Sub Depot repaired nose gear and carried out general maintenance 21 & 22
Feb 45 and further work on 6 Apr 45 (also recorded on a mission on 6 Apr 45).
Transferred to 93rd BG after 8 Apr 45.
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50322 I+ 734 E8
OD
Lost 29 Apr 44 on only mission - went down in the Dümmer Lake area. (Berlin)
MACR 4493
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50327 X+ 735 H6 Aircraft of the 453rd
Page D
25
GYPSY QUEEN
OD
Lost 8 May 44 - was attacked head-on by a German fighter, exploded in mid-air
and came apart at the end of the flight deck. The cockpit and parts fell into the
River Weser. Other parts were strewn over 1500 metres, 1 km
north of Tuendern and 3 km south of Hameln. (Brunswick) MACR 4592
!
B-24H-20 CF 42-50333 D 732 E3 PARTIAL PAYMENT
OD
shark nose
Crash landed 31 Dec 44 at Florennes, Belgium, with a P-38 escort after losing #3
& #4 engines, abandoning the formation and being set upon by enemy fighters.
(Koblenz) Salvaged battle damaged 5 Jan 45 by 5 SAD.
!
B-24H-30 FO 42-95353 P+ 735 H6 ZEUS
NMF
Landed 30 May 44 at Old Buckenham with only the right landing wheel down and
receiving power from only two engines after being forced to leave the formation,
reduce speed and fly home at low altitude. Landed on the short alternative
runway in a strong cross wind, left wing tip dragged when the plane reduced
speed and #1 propeller dug into the ground off the runway causing the plane to
swing round viciously. Main runway was still blocked by the burning 41-28645.
(Oldenburg) Salvaged 31 May 44.
!
B-24J-5 DT 42-51361 X+ 733 F8
NMF
First trace: 22 Sep 44.
Crashed and burned 28 Dec 44 on the bank of the River Severn at Shrawardine,
approximately 5 miles west-north-west of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, after # 3 and #
4 engines failed while on a training flight to a practice bombing range and the
pilot attempted an emergency landing at nearby RAF Montfort Bridge. The
survivor was taken to Copthorne Hospital, Shrewsbury. Salvaged 31 Dec 44 - 3 Jan
45.
!
B-24H-25 CF 42-50363 R 733 F8 NMF
Transferred to 491st BG after 31 May 44.
!
SECTION 8
B-24H-25 CF 42-50366 U 733 F8
NMF
U+ 733 F8
U 732 E3
Individual aircraft letter changed from U to U+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Transferred from 733rd to 732nd BS on 4 or 5 Aug 44.
Transferred to 389th BG after 18 Aug 44.
!
Page D
26
B-24J-5 DT 42-51373 P- 734 E8
NMF
First trace: 14 Jan 45.
!
B-24H-25 CF 42-50379 M 732 E3 MAID OF FURY II
NMF
Forced to land at Merville (Le Bourget, according to Form No.8), France, 16 Jan 45
owing to bad weather over England. The previous B-24 which landed stopped on
the wet, icy and slippery runway. To avoid hitting it, 42-50379 skidded to the
right off the runway and stopped with its tail just over the edge of the runway.
The next B-24 to land had plenty of room to get round 42-50379 but instead
skidded into it, its right wing smashing the tail and almost knocking off the tail
turret of 42-50379. (Magdeburg)
No trace on salvage lists but is recorded as "missing on operations" on 16 Jan 45.
!
B-24H-30 CF 42-50426 P+ 735 H6 SLEEPY TIME GAL
NMF
V 735 H6
Individual aircraft letter changed from P+ to V between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Crash landed 17 Sep 44 at Old Buckenham with a flat tyre and ground looped on
return from a trucking mission (freight haul) to Clastres, France.
Salvaged 17 - 19 Sep 44, badly damaged throughout.
!
B-24H-30 CF 42-50441 L- 734 E8 HOLLYWOOD AND VINE
NMF
Hydraulics shot out, left main landing gear collapsed, damaging the left wing and
engines on return from 12 Jul 44 mission to Munich/Riem.
Force landed or crashed 13 Jan 45 on the Continent. (Rüdesheim)
Salvaged battle damaged 18 Jan 45 on the Continent by 5 SAD.
!
B-24H-15 CF 41-29447 Q 733 F8
OD
25 Mar 44.
Force landed 11 May 44 at Forncett - ran out of fuel on return. (Chaumont)
Salvaged 12 - 14 May 44.
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64452 OD
Original airplane. S+ S- S J Unk
735
735
735
735
Unk
H6 H6 H6
H6
Page D
27
RUMPLESTILSKIN II
LEADING LADY
Individual aircraft letter changed from S+ to S- between 2 & 12 May 44, from Sto S between 8 & 11 Jul 44 and from S to J between 30 Sep & 24 Dec 44. On loan to 458th BG for truckin' missions and crash-landed at Watton on 30 Sep
44 (not 41-29452).
Fitted with RCM equipment from 11 Feb 45 at least. Transferred from 735th to another unidentified squadron on 1 Apr 45. The name RUMPLESTILSKIN II was never shown on the ship but, according to the
late Mike Benarcik, it was so named. 735th Squadron history gives the name as
LEADING LADY which, it states, Rush set down on 10 Jan 45 at Halesworth where it
was repaired 11 Jan 45 - hydraulic system.
Landed at A-55, Melun/Villaroche, France, or at A-54, Le Bourget, France, on 21
Jan 45. Landed at B-58 Brussels/Melsbroek, Belgium, with #3 engine out on 21 Feb 45
mission to Nürnberg - last recorded mission with 453rd BG. Transferred to 491st BG on 25 Apr 45.
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64453 V+ 735 H6
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 8 Apr 44 - last sighted near Salzwedel - shot down by enemy fighters and
crashed between Henningen and Wistedt, 18 km W of Salzwedel, Germany.
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64457 R 733
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 6 Mar 44 - went down in the North Sea after being damaged by flak over the
target and suffering further damage during the return flight – crew bailed out 5
miles off Great Yarmouth. (Berlin-Genshagen) MACR 2971
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64460 S 733
SHACK RABBIT
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 6 Mar 44 - shot down by fighters near Plantlüne during the return flight. The
aircraft exploded after four of the crew had bailed out. It went down in a small
wood at Biene after the pilot had pulled up the plane to avoid crashing in the city
of Lingen/Ems. (Berlin-Genshagen) MACR 2972
!
B-24JSH-5 FO 42-51463 L 732 E3
NMF
Crash landed 13 Sep 44 at Prouvy, near Denain, France, flown by a 734th BS crew
with Maj Walsh as Command Pilot. (Weissenhorn) Salvaged by 8 ASC - salvage
recorded on 14 Nov 44, an administrative date, not the date on which the aircraft
was actually salvaged.
!
B-24JSH-5 FO 42-51464 NMF
N- N 734 E8 735 H6
Page D
28
PATIENT PAT
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 12 - 15 Sep 44 - hydraulic system – after being
hit by flak over the target (Misburg) on 11 Sep 44 and having to force land.
Repaired at Woodbridge 30 Dec 44 - 12 Jan 45 - hydraulic system, engine trouble
- probably due to damage on the 29 Dec 44 mission to Remagen.
Repaired at Horsham St Faith 29 Jan 44 by 469th Sub-Depot - damaged on 28 Jan
45 mission to Dortmund.
Repaired at Woodbridge 29 Jan - 14 Feb 45? (landed at Horsham where it was
repaired on 29 Jan 45 and recorded on 6, 9, 11 & 14 Feb 45 missions).
Flown by Lt James Scanlon 21 Feb 45
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64464 V 733 F8 WAITER'S ONLY
OD
Original airplane.
Known to the original crew # 38 (Pilot: 2/Lt Joseph G. Waiter) as WAITER'S ONLY
(information from Al Thomale, a crew member) but the name was never painted
on to the aircraft. Also said to have been named CLOUD HOPPER when flown by
the Bergman crew and lost on 8 Apr 44 but this is unsubstantiated.
Lost 8 Apr 44 - shot down by enemy fighters - went down near Wistedt (or
Sistedt), Salzwedel County. (Brunswick) MACR 3923
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64469 I 732 E3 EL FLAKO
OD
shark nose
Crew Chief: M/Sgt Marlin Drellick.
Repaired at Pershore, Worcestershire 29 Jul - 7 Aug 44 - # 4 engine, battle
damage on 28 Jul 44 mission.
Lost 2 Nov 44 - received a direct hit by flak behind the bomb bay. Immediately
afterwards one wing came off and the ship nosed into a dive with the tail and
waist section hanging by three stringers. Chaff and oxygen
bottles came spewing out then the aft section broke off. Went down at Lünen Süd
on the south bank of the canal harbour basin - 78th mission. (Castrop-Rauxel
synthetic oil refinery) MACR 10165
!
B-24J-401 CF 42-50471 Q 732 E3 LIL' NEMO
NMF
Last trace with 453rd BG: 25 Mar 45.
RZI (photograph taken in the USA after the war with a B-24D glasshouse nose).
Was at Ypsilanti (Ford) and then went to Altus for eventual disposal.
!
B-24H-15 FO 42-52472 K 732 E3 LITTLE NANCY
OD
Possibly ex 458th BG.
Page 2
D9
Repaired at Old Buckenham 1 Jan 45 - damaged when it was hit by 42-51865
which slid off the slippery runway on take-off on 1 Jan 45.
Repaired at Attlebridge 29 Jan 45 - hydraulic system damaged on 28 Jan 45
mission to Dortmund.
Lost 9 Feb 45 - ditched in rough water in the North Sea off Great Yarmouth on
return with 3 engines feathered when last engine quit at 700 ft. (Magdeburg)
MACR 12219
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64472 F 732 E3 LUCKY 13
OD
First trace: 6 Jul 44 (but could have been an original airplane - pesky # 567).
467th Sub Depot carried out sheet metal work and checked the generator 15 - 17
Feb 45.
467th Sub-Depot checked landing gear and changed nose gear 22 - 24 Feb 45.
Last trace: 28 Feb 45 - landed at A-89 (Le Culot, Belgium).
Salvaged 15 Sep 45.
!
B-24J-401 CF 42-50473 R 735 H6
NMF
-
Recorded on missions with 735th BS from 27 Sep 44.
Fitted with RCM equipment on 25 Feb 45 or earlier.
Last trace: 25 Feb 45 -landed on the Continent at B-58 (Brussels-Melsbroek).
RZI. RFC Altus OK 26 Oct 45.
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64473 R+ 735 H6 LOVER'S LANE
OD
R- 735 H6 YUVADIT
R 735 H6
Original airplane.
LOVER'S LANE was on the port side and YUVADIT was on the starboard side.
Individual aircraft letter changed from R+ to R- between 9 May & 24 Jun 44 and
from R- to R between 8 & 16 Jul 44.
Repaired at Oulton 7 - 17 Aug 44 - #1 & #3 engines - after landing there with
two engines feathered on return from 5 Aug 44 mission to Brunswick
Last trace in 453rd BG: 13 Sep 44 mission but shown as an Old Buckenham aircraft
when flown by a 389th BG crew on 21 Sep 44 truckin' mission. Was probably declared war weary because 42-50473 R flew missions with 735th
from 27 Sep 44 onwards (were there two 473 R in the same Squadron or was
42-64473 transferred to 734th BS as R-?). Salvaged war weary 29 May 45 by BAD 3, Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland. (IARC:
02OCT44 SOXO CON SAL and immediately after it shows 03OCT44 Repaired.
!
B-24J-401 CF 42-50474 V 735 H6
NMF
Unk 732 E3
Taxiing accident on 4 Mar 45.
Transferred from 735th to 732nd Sqn on 1 Apr 45.
!
Page 3D0
B-24M-5 FO 44-50477 I 732 E3
NMF
Crash landed 15 Mar 45, on its second mission, at 5225N 1550E, about 10 km
east of Miedzyrzecz, Poland, after being fired upon by two Soviet fighters when it
made for the Soviet lines after losing two engines on the bomb run. (Gardelegen)
Salvaged 15 Mar 45. MACR 13092
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64478 X+ 735 H6 CABIN IN THE SKY
OD
Original airplane (pesky # 57x).
Lost 27 Mar 44 - received a direct hit by flak while flying as lead ship with Major
Curtis H Cofield, Group Operations Officer, on board - went down with flames
coming out of the bomb bay in the Pertuis d'Antioche, 3 – 5 miles off Pointe-deChassiron, Ile d'Oléron, France, and blew up on hitting the water. (Pau-Pont Long
airfield, France) MACR 3554
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64484 734
OD
Original airplane (pesky # 666?).
Salvaged 19 Jan - 3 Feb 44 at Old Buckenham after crashing on take-off in a field
beyond the end of the runway, the other side of Abbey Road, due to icing - left
landing gear broken off (I have the recognition lights switch box which I removed
from the flight deck).
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64490 U+ 735 H6 CEE GEE II
OD
Original airplane.
Crashed in flames 22 Apr 44 at Girling's Farm, Reydon Marsh, near Southwold,
Suffolk, after being hit on return by Me 410 intruders (or by a JU-88) 10 - 15
miles off the Suffolk coast. (Hamm) Salvaged 23 & 24 Apr 44. MACR 4781
!
B-24J-401 CF 42-50494 D 732 E3 SQUIRT
NMF
467th Sub-Depot changed electronic wiring 28 Feb 45.
!
B-24H-10 CF 42-64496
K 732 E3 BORSUK'S BITCH
OD
X+ 735 H6
Original airplane.
Named BORSUK'S BITCH after transfer from 732nd to 735th Sqn (where the Crew
Chief was M/Sgt. Borsuk) between 20 Feb & 31 Mar 44 but the name may not have
been painted on the nose.
Lost 25 Apr 44 - said to have been hit by flak over Paris and to have gone on to
bomb the target but, according to the pilot, whose recollection of the mission is
recorded on page 27 of "Strangers in a Strange Land", the circumstances were
Page D
31
different. The aircraft landed at Dübendorf, Zürich canton, SWITZERLAND.
(Mannheim) MACR 4304
Subsequently flown bearing Swiss Air Force markings, the first flight taking place
on 28 Apr 44.
Flown back to BAD 1, Burtonwood, Lancashire, on 8 Oct 45.
!
B-24JSH-5 FO 42-51503 J- 734 E8
NMF
Crashed and burned 26 Nov 44 at Park Common, Kenninghall. Unable to get the
aircraft to climb, Capt Conard jettisoned the bomb load but, never over a few
hundred feet above the ground, the aircraft lost altitude steadily and headed for
two houses 40 - 50 ft apart, which it could not fly over or between. An engine
damaged a corner of one house as it dislodged from the aircraft. The occupants of
the houses were unharmed but the crew lost their lives. (Bielefeld) Salvaged 26 &
27 Nov 44.
!
B-24JSH-5 FO 42-51508 R 732 E3
NMF
R 735 H6
Transferred from 732nd to 735th BS on 1 Apr 45.
Landed at Clastres, France, on return on 5 Jan 45.
467th Sub-Depot carried out modification 5 & 6 Feb 45.
!
B-24JSH-1 FO 42-50510 I 735 H6 SHAMROCK
NMF
-
ex 389th BG, where its individual aircraft letter was N (retained for its first mission
with 453rd BG on 16 Aug 44)
First of 735th BS's own PFF aircraft.
Crashed and burned 8 Jan 45 at East Wretham after being abandoned on return
from a recalled mission - flown by a 732nd BS crew. Salvaged 9 & 10 Jan 45 crashed in woods, fuselage and wings off.
!
B-24J-60 CF 44-10512 B 732 E3
NMF
First trace: 16 Aug 44.
Repaired at Honington, Suffolk, 29 - 31 Jan 45 - hydraulic system damaged on 28
Jan 45 mission to Dortmund.
Transferred to 448th BG after 25 Feb 45.
!
!
B-24JSH-1 FO 42-95515 J- 734 E8
NMF
Probably ex 389th BG.
First trace: 16 Aug 44.
Crash landed 11 Sep 44 at Woodbridge, Suffolk, on one wheel. (Misburg) Salvaged
18 & 19 Sep 44 - belly landed.
Page 3D2
!
B-24J-60 CF 44-10515 J- 734 E8
NMF
First trace: 4 Dec 44.
Crashed and burned 6 Feb 45 at Crown Farm, Deopham, - its tail was chopped off
in a mid-air collision with 42-94766, as a result of which the plane spun to earth.
(Magdeburg) Salvaged 6 & 7 Feb 45.
!
B-24J-1 FO 42-50522 K+ 733 F8 IRON DUKE, THE
NMF
May have been named THE IRON DUKE - see e-mails with Stan Duncan and
Michael Eyre.
Transferred to 448th BG between 9 Apr & 7 May 45.
!
B-24J-60 CF 44-10522 C- 734 E8
NMF
First trace: 25 Nov 44.
Fitted with S-27 special radio equipment from 28 Jan 45 or earlier and with RCM
equipment from 17 Mar 45 or earlier.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 1 & 2 Jan 45 - hydraulic system damaged on 30
Dec 44 mission to Euskirchen.
!
B-24M-5 FO 44-50527 T 732 E3 NMF
Delivered to AAF 9 Jan 45.
Arrived in the UK 7 Feb 45.
First trace in 453rd BG: 17 Mar 45.
HAZEE
B-24M-5 FO 44-50529 U NMF
Transferred to 491st BG on 18 Apr 45.
FLAMIN' MAMIE
!
732 E3 !
B-24J-1 FO 42-50568 M- 734 E8 LONESOME
POLECAT TOO
NMF
Ran off the runway on 18 Dec 44 at Old Buckenham on landing from a recalled
mission. Salvaged 18 - 19 (or 29) Dec 44.
!
B-24H-15 CF 41-29571 W+ 735 H6
OD
31 Mar 44
Page 3D3
Lost 8 Apr 44 on only mission - while on the bombing run, enemy fighters shot
out the controls and # 4 engine - went down at Uelzen, near Hannover.
!
B-24J-1 FO 42-50571 S 732 E3 MY ACHIN' BACK
NMF
DIRTY GERTIE
Name was MY ACHIN' BACK according to S/Sgt Richard G Ghaster, waist gunner in
Lt Robert J Crowley's crew, because their airplane on 26, 27 & 28 Sep & 26 Nov 44
was thus named and Form 8 and formation charts indicate that Lt Crowley flew
42-50571 on 27 & 28 Sep 44. The name DIRTY GERTIE has also
been attributed to this airplane perhaps because an OD H CF named DIRTY GERTIE
is wrongly identified on the 392nd BG Website as 42-50571.
Possibly ex 389th BG? - first trace with 453rd BG: 27 Sep 44.
Repaired at North Coates, Lincolnshire, 19 Jan - 25 Feb 45 - # 1 engine, battle
damage on 16 Jan 45 mission to Magdeburg.
!
B-24J-65 CF 44-10575 T 735 H6 BECOMING BACK
NMF
Unk 733 F8
Had 35.41 on nose
467th Sub-Depot patched left rudder and carried out general maintenance 16 &
17 Feb 45.
Transferred to 491st BG on 22 Apr 45.
!
B-24J-65 CF 44-10577 V 735 H6 STRICTLY BUSINESS
NMF
V- 734 E8
1st trace: 21 Sep 44.
Transferred from 735th to 734th BS between 28 Sep & 4 Dec 44.
Crash landed near Amiens, France, on return from 28 Sep 44 mission to Kassel
after suffering flak damage to # 3 engine.
Crashed and burned 1 Apr 45 at Shotesham while an engine was being slow
timed. Salvaged 3 & 4 Apr 45.
!
B-24M-5 FO 44-50577 R- 734 E8
NMF
First trace: 17 Mar 45 - fitted with RCM equipment.
Transferred to 458th BG and RZI.
RFC, Walnut Ridge, 29 Dec 45.
!
!
!
!
Page 3D4
B-24JSH-1 FO 42-95582 X+ 733
NMF
ex 389th BG (retained 567th BS code: HP - see Alan Rowsell's photo taken on 15
Mar 45 mission).
Last trace: 21 Mar 45 - landed at A-70 (Laon/Couvron, France)
RZI. RFC Walnut Ridge AR 3 Jan 46.
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28591 N 732 E3 INSPECTOR'S SQUAWKS
OD
N 735 H6
Original airplane.
According to Harry Godges, 735th BS Engineering Officer, this plane was named
JABBER WOCK but a photo of JABBER-WOCK! shows that the plane thus named was
NMF (a B-24H-25 or 30 FO see 42-95048)
Transferred from 732nd to 735th Sqn on 19 Mar 44.
Lost 21 Jun 44 - went down near Müggelsdorf near Berlin, after being separated
from the formation and attacked by four Ju 88s. (Nordban, near Berlin) MACR
5933
!
B-24LSH-10 FO 44-49594 C 732 E3 SHY ANN
NMF
C 735 H6 IS THIS TRIP NECESSARY?
Had two names: SHY ANN on the left side and IS THIS TRIP NECESSARY? on the
right.
Call letter painted on and general maintenance carried out by 467th Sub Depot,
Old Buckenham, 28 Feb 45
First trace on formation diagrams: 7 Mar 45.
!
!
B-24H-15 CF 41-29595 S 733 F8 ARCHIBALD
OD
S+ 733 F8
P+ 733 F8
First trace with 453rd BG: 12 May 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from S to S+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Abandoned in Ghent, Belgium, on 27 Sep 44 mission to Kassel but returned to
453rd BG and individual aircraft letter changed from S+ to P+ before 26 Nov 44.
Abandoned over France on 21 Jan 45 when the crew (9 of whom were reported OK
at A-54 - Le Bourget, near Paris, France) failed in attempts to transfer fuel due to
frozen pump and crashed at Charleville, about 6 miles north of Sézanne (Marne),
France. (Heilbronn) Salvaged battle damaged on the Continent by 5 SAD 28 Jan
45.
B-24JSH-1 FO 42-50602 M+ 733 F8 BODY AND SOUL
NMF
M 735 H6
Transferred from 733rd to 735th BS on 1 Apr 45.
Page D
35
467th Sub-Depot checked left outer wing panel 3 & 4 Feb 45.
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28610 X 733 F8 CURLY
OD
X+ 733 F8
G+ 733 F8
Original airplane (pesky # 463). Taxiing accident Dakar 14 Jan 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from X to X+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44 and from X+
probably to G+ between 19 Sep & 12 Dec 44.
On 25 Aug 44 afternoon mission to La Louvière, Belgium, flak over the Zuider Zee
on the way in caused the loss of #3 and #4 engines and damage in the bomb bay
where a gas line was severed and the doors had to be kicked free by crew
members. The aircraft left the formation, salvoed bombs and was escorted back to
Old Buckenham by a P-47. It landed with no brakes or flaps and was believed by
the crew to have been damaged beyond repair. However, it was repaired and is
recorded on missions as X+ on 9, 10, 11 & 13 Sep 44.
Last trace on formation plans: 24 Dec 44.
467th Sub-Depot changed superchargers from manual to electric 14 - 20 Feb 45. Transferred to 491st BG.
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28613 W
733
MAID OF FURY
OD
W+ 733 F8
W+ 732 E3
Original airplane.
Individual aircraft letter changed from W to W+ between 8 & 16 Jul 44.
Transferred from 733rd to 732nd BS between 4 & 6 Aug 44.
Nose wheel collapsed 15 Mar 44 on landing at Old Buckenham (on return from
mission to Brunswick?) but the airplane was repaired.
Last trace in 453rd BG: 16 Aug 44.
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28615 T 733
GINNIE
OD
Original airplane.
Lost 22 Feb 44 flying with 44th BG - hit by enemy aircraft, it went down hit water
and exploded in the North Sea. (Mission to Gotha recalled when 100 miles inland targets of opportunity sought but strong winds caused the
formation to drift over the Netherlands where some aircraft bombed Enschede,
Arnhem, Nijmegen and Deventer unintentionally) MACR 2895
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28619 M 732 E3 BEGIN THE BEGUINE
OD
J 732 E3
Original airplane.
Individual aircraft letter changed from M to J between 26 Feb & 5 Mar 44 or was
always J from first mission on 22 Feb 44?
The name is shown as BEGIN THE BEGUINE in a communication dated 26 Mar 44
from 453rd BG HQ to 2nd Bomb Division in accordance with 2BD instruction 45-1.
Page D
36
Lost 23 Jun 44 - shot down by flak on the way home and crashed at Souburg, near
Vlissingen, Walcheren, Netherlands, (Juvincourt, France) MACR 6232 !
B-24H-1 DT 41-28627 Y 733 F8 HER MAN
OD
Y+ 733 F8
Original airplane.
Badly damaged on 8 May 44 mission to Brunswick - see photos at the Ken Nellis
453rd BG Web site of the McCrocklin crew inspecting the damage.
Individual aircraft letter changed from Y to Y+ between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Last trace: 13 Sep 44.
Fate?
!
B-24H-15 FO 42-52627 Z 733 F8 STOLEN MOMENTS
OD
N- 735 H6 EVLIBSBUNNY
First trace: 27 Mar 44. Assignment 2BD Ops Order 2 Apr 44 conf VOCG 25 Mar 44.
Originally named STOLEN MOMENTS. Believed to have been re-named
EVLIBSBUNNY
by the Bill Banias crew when it returned to 453rd BG after repairs following the 29
Apr 44 crash-landing.
Transferred from 733rd to 735th BS between 21 Jun & 7 Jul 44.
Repaired at Beccles 30 Apr - 1 Jun 44 - #1 & #3 engines, wing panel, main
wheels, electrical system - damage on 29 Apr 44 mission to Berlin.
Lost 12 Jul 44 - hit by flak, went on fire and was last seen heading for Switzerland
- crash landed at Ensisheim, 15 - 20 km north of Mulhouse, France, was repaired
by the Germans, given German markings and was being
prepared for take off when it was shot up by a P-38 Lightning and destroyed, the
position having been communicated to the Allied forces by the French resistance
organisation. (Munich) MACR 6936
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28629 P 733 F8 BLONDES AWAY
OD
Original airplane.
Name supplied by Jonathan Smith at Hethel who had received an enquiry from the
son of a deceased 2 AD man who also has some photographs of the airplane
showing in particular the Project No. 92311. (Confirmed by photo on page 229 of
"In Search of Peace")
Lost 13 Apr 44 - landed at Dübendorf, Zürich canton, SWITZERLAND.
(Oberpfaffenhofen) MACR 3834
!
B-24H-1 DT 41-28631 Q+ 735 H6 QUEENIE
OD
Q- 735 H6 WITCHCRAFT II
Q 735 H6
Original airplane.
Douglas Tulsa line number: 223
Individual aircraft letter changed from Q+ to Q- between 20 Apr & 6 Jun 44 and
from Q- to Q between 8 & 16 Jul 44.
Very badly damaged in tail section on 20 Apr 44 mission. Direct burst made it
necessary to change whole tail assembly. Tail gunner killed.
Page 3D7
Last trace with 453rd BG: 11 Nov 44 on a practice mission (Pilot: Schauerman).
Exhibited as WITCHCRAFT II under the Eiffel Tower in Paris after the war,
the new name being a tribute to WITCHCRAFT of 467th BG.
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28641 Unk 735
CEE GEE
OD
Original airplane. Call letter may have been O or W+.
Lost 4 Feb 44 - took off from Old Buckenham with a 732nd BS crew on a training
mission, made a turn to the left climbing on a heading of 80° through the overcast
and after breaking out on top at 6500 ft, never joined the formation but
continued in an easterly direction. Was captured by the Germans, had its undersurfaces painted yellow, was flown by the Luftwaffe with German markings (A3? +
KB), particularly to fly supplies to the Island
of Rhodes, and was re-taken later by the advancing US Forces at Salzburg Airport,
Austria, where it had had a nose wheel collapse (see photo on page 27 of 2 ADA
Journal, Vol.39, No.1 (Spring 2000). May have landed at Eger, Czechoslovakia. See
coloured photo on page 121 of "Bombardiers Lourds de la Dernière Guerre" par
Mister Kit & J.-P. De Cock (serial erroneously quoted as 42-8641). See also page
109 of "In Search of Peace". MACR 2968
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28642 H+ 734
LIBBY RAIDER
OD
Crash landed 2 Mar 44 at Old Buckenham - salvaged 3 - 5 Mar 44 – left landing
gear and aux spar pulled out.
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28644 I+ 734 E8 YANKEE DOLL
OD
Original airplane.
Crash landed 22 Apr 44 at Tibenham on return after being damaged by Me 410
intruders which infiltrated the formation on that evening. (Hamm) Salvaged 23 26 Apr 44 - right gear collapsed, severe battle damage.
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28645 U 733 F8 GOLDEN GABOON, THE
OD
Original airplane.
Repaired at Staplehurst, Kent, 4 - 20 Apr 44 - # 4 engine.
Crash landed and burned 30 May 44 at Old Buckenham, after returning severely
battle damaged and being caught in the slipstream of the preceding plane.
(Oldenburg) Salvaged 30 & 31 May 44.
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28649 Z 733
LITTLE BRIAN
OD
LITTLE BRYAN
Original airplane.
Named LITTLE BRIAN but, according to the report from 453rd BG HQ to to 2nd
Bomb Div. dated 22 Feb 44 the name was LITTLE BRYAN.
Page D
38
Lost 18 Mar 44 - left the formation with one engine out and another one smoking
at 1324 hours, 48°20'N 05°50'E, over France near Chaumont, on the way to the
target with Col Joseph A Miller, Group Commanding Officer, on board and was last
observed heading south toward Switzerland. Went down at Saint-Marcel, France.
(Friedrichshafen) MACR 3552
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28650 A 732 E3 ROOSTER
OD
Original airplane.
No shark nose on 27 Mar 44 photo.
Lost 8 Apr 44 - shot down by a Me 109 and crashed about 90 miles north-east of
Brunswick, near Brueck or Lüneburg. (Brunswick) MACR 3929
!
B-24H-5 DT 41-28654 Unk 732 E3 CONSOLIDATED MESS
OD
F 732 E3 shark nose
Original airplane.
Named CONSOLIDATED MESS on the starboard side. Also said to have been named
SPARE PARTS. According to a report dated 22 Feb 44 to 2nd Bomb Div. this plane
had a picture of an Indian Head but no name.
First traced with individual aircraft letter F on 3 Mar 44. Original letter unknown.
(Original F was 42-52302 KEN O KAY lost 25 Feb 44.)
Seriously damaged on the 6 Mar 44 mission to Berlin-Genshagen but was
repaired.
Last trace with 453rd BG: 20 Jun 44.
Said to have been salvaged by 4 SAD on 24 Jun 44 but it was subsequently
assigned to secret operations and was shot down by "friendly" fire over Murmansk
in Sep 44 (see also 42-52196).
!
B-24JSH-10 FO 42-51665 A 732 E3 LITTLE GRAMPER JUNIOR
3RD, THE
NMF
A 735 H6
ex 389th BG (kept, at least initially, the 566th Sqn code RR)
!
B-24JSH-10 FO 42-51681 D- 734 E8
NMF
D 735 H6
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 30 Dec 44 - 2 Jan 45 - hydraulic system, engine
trouble - aborted 29 Dec 44 mission to Remagen.
Last trace in 453rd BG: 10 Apr 45.
!
B-24MHO-10 FO 44-50685 V NMF
-
See also 44-40297 with the same name
735 H6 Aircraft of the 453rd
Page D
39
SILENT YOKUM
Only trace: 10 Apr 45.
!
B-24J-1 FO 42-50703 I- 734 E8 WORRY BIRD
NMF
Crashed and burned 9 Feb 45 on return at Bury's Hall Farm, Carleton Rode, 100
yards from the runway, in full view of all those who daily came to "sweat them in",
following a mid-air collision with 42-95102 SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME which did not
crash. (Magdeburg)
Salvaged 9 & 10 Feb 45.
!
B-24M-10 FO 44-50704 Unk 733 F8
NMF
!
B-24JSH-10 FO 42-51707 H 735 H6 NMF
ex 445th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 14 Jan 45.
DOROTHY
!
B-24J-1 FO 42-50715 S 735 H6 BOISE BABE
NMF
-
Modified by 467th Sub-Depot 1 & 2 Feb 45.
Crash-landed 23 Feb 45 at Corner Farm, Scott's Corner, Carleton Rode, on return
- ran out of fuel. (Paderborn) Salvaged 24 & 25 Feb 45.
(According to 735th Squadron Engineering Office mission record, it flew on the 24
Feb 45 mission and the crash occurred in the traffic pattern returning from that
mission. The date is incorrect)
!
B-24M-10 FO 44-50715 O 735 H6 NMF
Unk 734 E8
First trace: 19 Mar 45 - fitted with RCM equipment.
FORD'S FOLLIES
!
B-24M-10 FO 44-50718 U+ 733
RUM 'N COKE
NMF
First trace with 453rd BG: 12 Mar 45.
Brought over to UK by a 448th BG replacement crew but aircraft and crew were
separated on arrival and the plane flew no missions with 448th BG.
Fitted with RCM equipment from 19 Mar 45 or earlier.
Transferred to 466th BG between 11 & 20 Apr 45.
!
B-24J-1 FO 42-50720 B- 734 E8 Aircraft of the 453rd
Page 4D0
BASTARD
NMF
First trace: 31 Jul 44.
!
B-24M-10 FO 44-50721 Unk 732 E3
NMF
Individual aircraft letter possibly M.
!
B-24D-1 CO 41-23738 J 733
WHAM BAM
OD
732
ex 44th BG under 2BD Operations Order dated 29 Jan 44, originally 93rd BG.
Assembly ship.
Damaged on the ground on 1 Jan 45 by 42-51865 which crashed on take off.
467th Sub-Depot installed demand oxygen system 13 & 14 Feb 45.
Salvaged war weary 11 May 45 by 3 SAD, Neaton (Watton) - uneconomical to
repair. (Entry appears on 3 SAD Field Engineering salvage list for 445th BG
indicating that the aircraft may have been transferred to that Group)
!
B-24H-10 DT 41-28745 P 733 F8
OD
ex 486th BG - flew no missions with that Group. Received by 453rd BG between
13 & 27 Apr 44.
Taxiing accident 27 Apr 44 at Old Buckenham (first trace with 453rd BG)
Lost 8 May 44 - went down 2 km west of Salzdahlum, 4.5 km north-north-east of
Wolfenbüttel, near Punkt. (Brunswick) MACR 4590
!
B-24H-15 FO 42-52755 P 732 E3 PERCOLATIN' PETE
OD
PETE
A painting on the port side of the nose, accompanying the name PETE, depicted a
large yellow coffee pot with a lid open at a 45ø angle. A large cloud of steam was
coming out of the spout and open lid. Hence the PERCOLATIN' but this word did
not appear. No name or nose art on the starboard side.
ex 492nd BG - 2nd Organisation, previously 34th BG, where it was named the
second DYNAMITE 'N DODO, originally 486th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 4 Feb
45.
467th Sub-Depot checked all turrets and carried out modification 4 - 8 Feb 45.
Last trace: 15 Mar 45 - landed at B-78, Eindhoven, Netherlands, needing two new
engines.
Fate unknown.
!
B-24J-5 FO 42-50764 W 735 H6 LINDA LOU
NMF
W 732 E3
First trace: 31 Jul 44.
Landed at Brussels, Belgium, on 18 Oct 44 mission to Cologne - next mission 6
Dec 44.
Page 4D1
Transferred from 735th to 732nd BS between 31 Dec 44 & 16 Feb 45.
467th Sub-Depot carried out sheet metalwork and modification 12 & 13 Feb 45.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 31 Mar - 11 Apr 45 - after landing at 155 mph
with hydraulic system out, requiring landing gear to be cranked down, and no
brakes, on return from 30 Mar 45 mission to Wilhelmshaven when it was badly
damaged by flak which killed radio operator Joe DeCusati.
According to Roger Freeman it had completed 60 missions when seen on VE-Day
(NOTE: 31 of these were with 735th Squadron without an abort)
!
B-24H-15 FO 42-94766 K- 734 E8 IRON PANTS
OD
ex 34th BG after 7 Aug 44 - first trace with 453rd BG: 9 Sep 44.
Landed in France on 24 Dec 44 mission.
Repaired at Woodbridge, Suffolk, 5 - 22 Jan 45 - #1 engine damaged on 5 Jan 45
mission to Neustadt and Sobernheim.
Repaired at Shipdham 7 Feb 45 by 464th Sub Depot - damaged in a mid-air
collision with 44-10515 on 6 Feb 45 mission to Magdeburg.
RZI. RFC Altus OK 25 Sep 45.
!
B-24HSH-15 DT 41-28781 G 732 E3 NANI WAHINE
OD
CHIEF
Ex 389th BG - first trace as assigned to 453rd BG: 24 Aug 44 – originally 482nd
BG.
Last trace with 453rd BG: aborted as deputy lead on 8 Nov 44 mission to Rheine.
Assigned to 492nd BG - 2nd Organisation before 6 Dec 44 (appears on 492nd BG
monthly inventory report of aircraft dated 6 Dec 44) and later designated as a
B-24HSH (NITE) and named CHIEF which appears on MACR 12908 (492nd BG).
!
B-24H-15 FO 42-94783 Y+ 733 F8 JO
OD
ex 489th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 24 Dec 44.
Landed at Laon/Athies, France, on 5 Jan 45 mission to Neustadt and Sobernheim engine trouble - next mission: 8 Mar 45.
Last trace in 453rd BG: 9 Apr 45.
RZI - arrived Bradley 20 Jun 45. Altus, OK, 16 Aug - 25 Sep 45. (see page 93 of
"The Mighty Eighth - The Colour Record").
!
B-24M-10 FO 44-50790 J 735 H6
NMF
Unk 732 E3
First trace: 4 Apr 45 when, described as a 735th BS aircraft, the 734th BS crew
flying it failed to find the formation and aborted .
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94805 OD
U+ 735 H6 U- 735 H6
U 735 H6
Page D
42
FOIL PROOF
Unk 733 F8
Individual aircraft letter changed from U+ to U- between 8 & 11 May 44 and from
U- to U between 8 & 17 Jul 44.
Went to Depot [Probably 3 SAD, Neaton (Watton)] for overhaul between 8 Jan 45
(recorded on 7 Jan 45 mission to Zweibrücken) and 1 Mar 45.
Survived the war with 110 missions (According to 735th BS mission record it flew
104 missions and had 7 aborts with that Squadron. Also flew 4 missions and had 1
abort with 733rd BS)
The paint was almost certainly stripped off while at the Depot because this aircraft
has all the characteristics of the NMF aircraft named FOIL PROOF photographed
with 93rd BG after transfer from 453rd BG.
!
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94806 Z+ 735 H6
OD
15 Apr 44.
Lost 8 May 44 - after dropping bombs it was hit by a large formation of fighters
and went down on fire in the bomb bay 15 miles south of the target. (Brunswick)
MACR 4597
!
B-24JSH-20 FO 44-48816 I 735 H6 GINNIE
NMF
467th Sub-Depot re-installed scope camera mount 6 & 7 Feb 45.
467th Sub-Depot checked complete pitot system 20 & 21 Feb 45.
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94820 L 735 H6 LUCKY LUCKY
OD
M- 734 E8 PLUCKY LUCKY
ex 489th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 25 Nov 44.
Original name PLUCKY LUCKY but changed to LUCKY LUCKY after armour plate
covered the PL and part of the U of the word PLUCKY.
Transferred from 735th to 734th BS between 24 & 28 Dec 44.
Repaired at Old Buckenham 25 Feb 45 (aborted on that day's mission) or 27 Feb
45 by 467th Sub Depot - tail section from Sta 5.2 changed - see letter from Jim
Peterson on page 21 of Vol 6, No 2 of The 453rd Bomb Group Association
Newsletter.
RZI with 466th BG on Operation "Home Run".
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94842 OD
Unk 732 E3 Aircraft of the 453rd
Page 4D3
FORD'S FOLLY
ex 489th BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 8 Apr 45.
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94850 V+ 735 H6
OD
V- 735 H6
15 Apr 44.
Individual aircraft letter changed from V+ to V- on return from 11 May 44
mission.
Lost 20 Jun 44 - landed at Bulltofta (Malmö), SWEDEN, shot up, short of fuel and in
danger of blowing up. (Politz) MACR 5934
Brought back to England on 27 Jun 45. RZI.
!
B-24M-15 FO 44-50861
Unk Unk
NMF
No trace on mission formation diagrams.
Transferred to 389th BG
!
B-24JSH-15 FO 42-51865 H 735 H6
NMF
Crashed and burned 1 Jan 45 at Old Buckenham while attempting to take off in
thick fog. The plane slipped off the runway, slithered across the frozen airfield,
unable to rise or stop and crashed into 42-52472 LITTLE NANCY and 41-23738
WHAM BAM, both of which were parked and sustained only minor damage.
(Remagen) Salvaged 2 & 3 Jan 45.
(According to 735th Squadron Engineering Office mission record this crash
occurred on 29 Dec 44 but the aircraft appears on the formation chart for the 1
Jan 45 mission, its crash on that day is confirmed by Bill Garrett and the incident is
described in "The Liberator Men of Old Buc" as having occurred on 1 Jan 45)
!
B-24M-15 FO 44-50887
Unk Unk
NMF
No trace on mission formation diagrams.
Transferred to 389th BG
!
B-24J-115 CO 42-109896 N+ 733 F8 GYPSY QUEEN
OD
ex 392nd BG - first trace with 453rd BG: 14 Oct 44.
Transferred to 44th BG after 11 Apr 45 but flew no missions with that Group.
!
B-24JSH-5 FO 42-50898 Y 732 E3
NMF
Crashed 27 Dec 44 at Old Buckenham near the edge of the airfield, on take-off
from a salt-strewn and slippery runway, after refusing to rise more than a few feet
Page D
44
off the ground. The tail broke off aflame and flames in the remainder set off
ammunition and caused the bombs to explode - 453rd BG mission cancelled.
!
B-24LHO-15 FO 44-49926 W 735 H6 SWEET SUE
NMF
First trace: 21 Feb 45.
453rd BG Divisional insignia painted on and general maintenance carried out by
467th Sub Depot, Old Buckenham, 21 & 22 Feb 45.
B-24H-15 DT 41-28938 E 732 E3 PAY DAY
NMF
-
See also 42-95233 which may have had the same name.
Transferred to 491st BG between 30 May & 5 Jun 44.
!
B-24H-20 DT 41-28943 Q+ 735 H6 DUMBO
NMF
L 735 H6 PISTOL PACKIN PACHYDERM, THE
Unk 732 E3
Individual aircraft letter changed from Q+ to L between 8 & 11 Jul 44.
Transferred from 735th to 732nd BS on 1 Apr 45.
Landed at Brussels on 27 Sep 44 mission to Kassel - next mission: 21 Jan 45.
According to 735th BS mission record, it flew 75 missions and had only one abort
with that Squadron.
NOTE: The olive drab panel on top of the nose to avoid glare from the natural
metal finish was extended to the nose turret housing instead of tapering-off to the
astrodome as was the case with other B-24H & J DTs.
Transferred to 491st BG (it is assumed this is the airplane entered as '942 in the
North Pickenham control tower log on 22 Apr 45).
!
B-24H-20 DT 41-28949 S+ 733 F8
OLD DEACON
NMF
Fitted with RCM equipment from 20 Mar 45 or earlier.
On 21 Mar 45 mission to Essen, took flak damage over the target, lost #4 engine
and feathered. #2 turbo waste gate went full closed, so cut back to half power to
avoid over-heating and because of the late hour and potential
enemy intruders over Old Buckenham, landed at St-Trond, Belgium. After repair
returned to Old Buckenham on 23 Mar 45.
RZI with 466th BG on Operation "Home Run" where it was named DOG PATCH
CLIPPER !
B-24JSH-15 FO 42-51955 NMF
O+ 733 F8 K 735 H6
Page D
45
GEORGE
First trace: 10 Nov 44.
An H2X aircraft transferred from 733rd to 735th BS on 1 Apr 45 but flew no
missions with 735th BS.
Last trace: 9 Mar 45.
!
B-24LHO-15 FO 44-49972 P+ 733 F8 RUM COLLINS
NMF
First trace: 28 Feb 45.
467th Sub-Depot carried out general maintenance 28 Feb 44.
Lost 31 Mar 45 - top turret malfunctioned and shot out the two right hand
engines on the way to the target. The crew bailed out and the aircraft went
down at Lutjewinkel (Friesland), Netherlands. (Brunswick) MACR 13734
!
B-24H-20 FO 42-94990 C 732 E3 KEN O KAY III
OD
Crashed 3 Jan 45 on return at Pontpierre, just south of St-Avold, France, as it
crossed the battle lines after being abandoned when #1 & #2 engines were lost.
(Homburg) Salvaged battle damaged 22 Jan 45 by 5 SAD. MACR 11560
!
!
!
!
!
Page D
46
List of Known Aircraft – Sorted by Serial Number
!
Serial
Type
Name
41-23738
Consolidated B-24D-1-CO
Wham Bam
41-28591
Douglas-Tulsa B-24H-1-DT
Archibald / Inspector's
Squawks
41-28610
Curly
#
41-28613
Maid of Fury
#
41-28615
Ginnie
41-28619
Begin the Beguine
41-28627
Riptide / Jake
41-28629
Blondes Away
#
41-28631
Witchcraft II / Queenie
#
41-28641
Cee Gee/ Jabber Wock
#
41-28642
Libby Raider
#
41-28644
Yankee Doll
41-28645
The Golden Gaboon
41-28649
Little Bryan / Little Brian
41-28650
Rooster
41-28654
Consolidated Mess/Spare
Parts
41-28745
Pete
41-28781
Nani Wahine
41-28938
Pay Day
41-28943
Dumbo / The Pistol Packin
Pachyderm
#
41-28949
Old Deacon
#
41-29005
Dollys Sister
#
41-29179
Consolidated B-24H-1-CF
41-29210
Heavenly Body
#
41-29249
Lonesome Polecat
#
41-29250
Big Axe / Old Butch
#
41-29254
Little Mike
41-29257
Notre Dame / Lil Mike
Page D
47
#
#
#
#
#
41-29259
Our Baby
41-29301
Vampin' vera
#
41-29447
41-29571
41-29595
Archibald
#
42-50278
42-50296
Fords Folly
42-50301
Sweet Sue
42-50317
Balls O' Fire/Dizzy E Easy
#
42-50322
42-50327
Gypsy Queen
#
42-50333
Partial Payment
#
42-50363
42-50366
42-50379
Maid of Fury II / Cooter
#
42-50426
Sleepy Time Gal
#
42-50441
Hollywood & Vine
#
42-50471
Consolidated B-24J-401-CF
Lil' Nemo
#
42-50473
42-50474
n/a
42-50494
Squirt
42-50510
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Shamrock
42-50522
Ford B-24J-1-FO
42-50568
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Lonesome Polecat Too
42-50571
Ford B-24J-1-FO
My Achin' Back / Dirty Gertie
42-50602
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Body and Soul
42-50703
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Worry Bird
42-50715
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Boise Babe
42-50720
Ford B-24J-1-FO
Bastard
42-50764
Ford B-24J-5-FO
Linda Lou
42-50898
Ford B-24J-5-FO
Youthful Rocket
42-51063
Ford B-24J-5-FO
Danny Boy
Page D
48
#
#
#
#
42-51087
Hot Stuff / Duchess
#
42-51089
Star Eyes
#
42-51096
Hustlin Hussy
#
42-51102
Jug Head
#
42-51108
ArrowHead
#
42-51112
"112"
#
42-51114
Whiskey Jingles
#
42-51149
Blood and Guts
#
42-51204
42-51301
Douglas-Tulsa B-24J-5-DT
Ruth Marie
#
42-51304
42-51361
42-51373
42-51463
Ford B-24J-5-FO
42-51464
Ford B-24J-5-FO
42-51503
Ford B-24J-5-FO
42-51508
Ford B-24J-5-FO
42-51665
Ford B-24J-10-FO
The Little Gramper Junior 3rd #
42-51681
Ford B-24J-10-FO
"681"
42-51707
Ford B-24J-10-FO
Dorothy
42-51865
Ford B-24J-15-FO
42-51955
Ford B-24J-15-FO
George
42-52139
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Briney Marlin
42-52147
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Pug
42-52154
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Male Call
42-52169
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Lucky Penny/ Lost & Found
Dept.
42-52174
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Hoo-Jive
42-52175
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Portland Annie
42-52176
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Valkyrie / Vampin' Vera
42-52178
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Little Agnes
42-52180
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Lil Eight Ball
#
42-52182
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Rumplestilskin
#
Patient Pat
Page D
49
#
#
#
42-52185
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Little Joe / Sun of a Beach
42-52186
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Sunshine / Cee Gee
42-52191
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Little Joe / Lillie Belle
42-52196
Ford B-24H-10-FO
War Bride
42-52201
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Battle Package
42-52218
Ford B-24H-10-FO
42-52226
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Betty Boop
42-52234
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Corky - Burgundy bombers
42-52237
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Paper Doll
42-52240
Ford B-24H-10-FO
"663"
42-52244
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Black Jed
#
42-52277
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Shack Rabbit II
#
42-52296
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Rip Tide
42-52298
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Choo Choo Baby Jelly Belly
42-52299
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Hard to Get
#
42-52301
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Ken O Kay II
#
42-52302
Ford B-24H-10-FO
Ken O Kay
#
42-52472
Ford B-24H-15-FO
Little Nancy
#
42-52627
Ford B-24H-15-FO
42-52755
Ford B-24H-15-FO
42-64452
42-64453
42-64457
42-64460
Shack Rabbit
42-64464
n/a
42-64469
El Flako/Rainbow Goddess
42-64472
Lucky 13
42-64473
Yuvadit/Lovers Lane
#
42-64478
Cabin in the Sky
#
42-64484
42-64490
Page 5D0
#
#
#
Stolen Moments /
EvlibsBunny
Percolatin' Pete / Dynamite N'
Dodo
Rumplestilskin II / Leading
Lady
Cee Gee II
#
42-64496
Borsuk's Bitch
#
42-94766
Ford B-24H-15-FO
Iron Pants
#
42-94783
Ford B-24H-15-FO
Jo
42-94805
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Foil Proof
42-94806
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Mackey
42-94820
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Lucky Lucky / Plucky Lucky
42-94842
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Ford's Folly
42-94850
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Becky
42-94990
Ford B-24H-20-FO
Ken O Kay III
#
42-95019
Ford B-24H-20-FO
42-95047
Ford B-24H-25-FO
42-95048
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Jabber-Wock!
#
42-95073
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Flying Home
#
42-95076
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Lace
#
42-95086
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Squee-Gee
#
42-95099
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Rag Doll
42-95102
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Spirit of Notre Dame
42-95111
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Porky
42-95166
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Century Queen
42-95167
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Never Mrs
#
42-95171
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Diana-Mite
#
42-95173
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Sky Chief
#
42-95206
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Ohio Silver
#
42-95214
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Wandering Wanda
#
42-95216
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Becky / Black Widow
42-95233
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Pay Day
42-95252
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Shack Happy
42-95267
Ford B-24H-25-FO
Silver Queen
42-95276
Ford B-24H-25-FO
My Babs
42-95303
Ford B-24H-30-FO
Crows Nest
#
42-95312
Ford B-24H-30-FO
Lucky Penny II
#
42-95353
Ford B-24H-30-FO
Zeus
#
Page 5D1
#
#
42-95515
Ford B-24J-1-FO
42-95582
Ford B-24J-1-FO
42-109896 Consolidated B-24J-115-CO
Gypsy Queen
#
Humpshot
#
Liberty Run / Shoo Shoo Baby #
Flak Hack
The Swede The Maytag
#
Flying Bull /Stinky
#
Mary Harriet
#
44-10512
44-10515
44-10522
44-10575
Becoming Back
#
44-10577
Strictly Business
#
44-40072
Consolidated B-24J-145-CO
BTO
#
44-40173
Our Baby / Ernies Beavers
#
44-40292
Hattie Belle
#
44-40297
Silent Yokum
#
44-48816
Ford B-24J-20-FO
Ginnie
#
44-49318
Ford B-24L-5-FO
44-49321
Ford B-24L-5-FO
44-49594
Ford B-24L-10-FO
Shy Ann / Is this Trip
Necessary
#
44-49926
Ford B-24L-15-FO
Sweet Sue
#
44-49972
Ford B-24L-15-FO
Rum Collins
44-50299
Ford B-24M-1-FO
44-50310
Ford B-24M-1-FO
44-50477
Ford B-24M-5-FO
Never Mrs Too
44-50527
Ford B-24M-5-FO
Hazee
#
44-50529
Ford B-24M-5-FO
Flamin Mamie
#
Page D
52
"515"
44-50577
Ford B-24M-5-FO
"577" / Dizzy R Roger
44-50685
Ford B-24M-10-FO
Silent Yokum
44-50704
Ford B-24M-10-FO
44-50715
Ford B-24M-10-FO
Fords Follies
#
44-50718
Ford B-24M-10-FO
Rum'n Coke
#
44-50721
Ford B-24M-10-FO
44-50790
Ford B-24M-10-FO
44-50861
Ford B-24M-15-FO
44-50887
Ford B-24M-15-FO
!
Key
!
#
!
#
#
"790"
A photograph of this aircraft can be found in the Wartime set of the
OLDBUCKSHOTS Website http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldbuckshots/ Aircraft of the 453rd
Page D
53
List of Aircraft Lost or Interned – Sorted by Date
!
Serial
42-64484
41-28641
42-52178
41-29254
42-52139
41-28644
41-28615
42-52182
42-52302
41-28642
42-52191
42-52226
42-64457
42-64460
42-52175
42-52218
41-28649
42-52277
42-64478
42-52185
42-52180
42-64453
42-64464
41-29571
41-28650
42-110076
42-52244
42-52240
42-52301
41-28629
42-64490
42-64496
42-95019
42-50322
42-52176
41-28745
42-50278
42-50327
42-52147
42-52169
42-52298
42-94806
Name
MACR
Cee Gee / Jabber Wock
Little Agnes
Little Mike
Briney Marlin
Yankee Doll
Ginnie
Rumplestilskin
Ken O Kay
Libby Raider
Little Joe / Lillie Belle
Betty Boop
2968
Shack Rabbit
Portland Annie
Little Bryan / Little Brian
Schack Rabbit II
Cabin in the Sky
Little Joe / Sun of a Beach
Lil Eight Ball
Rooster
Black Jed
"663"
Ken O Kay II
Blondes Away
Cee Gee II
Borsuk's Bitch
Valkyrie / Vampin' Vera
Pete
Gypsy Queen
Pug
Lucky Penny/ Lost & Found
Dept.
Choo Choo Baby /Jelly Baby
Mackey
Page D
54
Date of Loss
4590
4591
4592
4593
19/01/1944
04/02/1944
06/02/1944
10/02/1944
20/02/1944
22/02/1944
22/02/1944
23/02/1944
25/02/1944
02/03/1944
06/03/1944
06/03/1944
06/03/1944
06/03/1944
08/03/1944
18/03/1944
18/03/1944
23/03/1944
27/03/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
08/04/1944
09/04/1944
09/04/1944
09/04/1944
13/04/1944
22/04/1944
25/04/1944
25/04/1944
29/04/1944
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
4594
4596
4597
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
08/05/1944
2780
2895
2802
2969
2970
2971
2972
2928
3552
3553
3554
3296
3297
3922
3923
3928
3929
3924
3921
3925
4940
3834
4781
4304
4305
4493
42-110025
42-52186
41-29447
41-28645
41-29257
42-95353
42-94850
42-52196
Sunshine / Cee Gee
n/a
The Golden Gaboon
Notre Dame / Lil Mike
Zeus
Becky
War Bride
Archibald / Inspector's
41-28591 Squawks
41-28619 Begin the Beguine
42-95233 Pay Day
42-95048 Jabber Wock!
42-52201 Battle Package
42-52627 Stolen Moments / EvlibsBunny
41-29259 Our Baby
42-95171 Diana-Mite
42-52299 Hard to Get
42-110089 Strickly Business
42-110138 Flying Bull / Buffalo
42-52174 Hoo-Jive
42-110085 Flak Hack
42-95515
42-51463
42-95111 Porky
42-50426 Sleepy Time Gal
41-29250 Old Butch
42-95252 Shack Happy
42-95312 Lucky penny II
42-95047
42-64469 El Flako/Rainbow Goddess
42-50301 Sweet Sue
42-95167 Never Mrs
41-29005 Dollys Sister
42-51503
42-50568 Lonesome Polecat Too
42-95173 Sky Chief
42-50898 Youthful Rocket
42-51361
42-50333 Partial Payment
42-51865
42-94990 Ken O Kay III
42-50510 Shamrock
42-50296 Fords Folly
42-50441 Hollywood & Vine
42-50379 Maid of Fury II
41-29595 Archibald
42-95076 Lace
Page D
55
4598
4595
5934
8420
5933
6232
6233
7226
8715
6936
7252
7253
16006
8424
8293
15217
8853
9418
10177
10165
10342
10406
11560
08/05/1944
09/05/1944
11/05/1944
30/05/1944
30/05/1944
30/05/1944
20/06/1944
20/06/1944
21/06/1944
23/06/1944
24/04/1944
07/07/1944
11/07/1944
12/07/1944
21/07/1944
21/07/1944
01/08/1944
11/08/1944
16/08/1944
25/08/1944
08/09/1944
11/09/1944
13/09/1944
13/09/1944
17/09/1944
27/09/1944
02/10/1944
17/10/1944
19/10/1944
02/11/1944
05/11/1944
11/11/1944
21/11/1944
26/11/1944
18/12/1944
24/12/1944
27/12/1944
28/12/1944
31/12/1944
01/01/1945
03/01/1945
08/01/1945
10/01/1945
13/01/1945
16/01/1945
21/01/1945
21/01/1945
42-51102
44-10515
42-50703
42-52472
42-51149
42-50715
42-110100
44-50477
44-49972
42-51112
44-10577
42-51089
!
Key
!
Jug Head
"515"
Worry Bird
Little Nancy
Blood and Guts
Boise Babe
The Swede The Maytag
Never Mrs Too
Rum Collins
"112"
Strictly Business
Star Eyes
MACR - Missing Air Crew Report Aircraft of the 453rd
Page 5D6
12219
16087
13092
13734
13735
14443
31/01/1945
06/02/1945
09/02/1945
09/02/1945
17/02/1945
23/02/1945
03/03/1945
15/03/1945
31/03/1945
31/03/1945
01/01/1945
10/04/1945
List of Unidentified aircraft attributed to the 453rd
!
These aircraft have been attributed to the 453rd but no serial numbers or photographic evidence has so far
been found
!
Name
Finish
BarrelHouse Bess
Sqdn
735 H6
Bayou Tiger
Buffalo
733 F8
Butch
735 H6
Channel Shy
732 E3
Consoldiated Mess II
Danny Boy
NMF
Fearless Fosdick
735 H6
Fertile Myrtle
OD
Galloping Ghost
Green Dragon
735 H6
Half n Half
Hell for Hitler
Her Man
733 H6
Humpshot
732 E3
Inspectors Squak
Je Revien
735 H6
Lacey
Lady Jake
Melody Lane
734 E8
Mickey Mouse
Miss Nebopanew
NMF
Never Mrs Too
NMF
Nokish
Patsy
735 H6
Pistol Packin Mama
733 F8
Purple Shaft
734 E8
Reluctant Dragon
S for Sugar
735 H6
Sack Happy
734 E8
Sad Sack
733 F8
Stolen Moment
The Near Sighted Robin
OD
The Shack II
Toonerville Trolley
733 F8
We Go
We Go II
You're Safe at Home
!
(Any information to help identify these aircraft would be gratefully received.) Aircraft of the 453rd
Page D
57
Long Serving Aircraft
!
Of the sixty-one aircraft that first arrived , only one remained at the end of their
detachment - "Male Call" which flew ninety-five missions with the 734th BS. . !
In all, the 453rd had ten veteran B-24's that carried out 100 or more missions: - !
120 missions - "My Babs” of the 733rd Squadron.
!
117 missions - "Wandering Wanda" of the 735th Squad
!
116 missions - "Hattie Belle" of the 735th Squadron
!
113 missions - "Arrowhead" of the 732nd Squadron.
!
111 missions - "Foil Proof" of the 735th Squadron.
!
107 missions - "Ohio Silver" of the 732nd Squadron.
!
103 Missions - "Century Queen" of the 735th Squadron
!
101 missions - "Crows Nest" of the 734th Squadron.
!
100 missions - "Becky" of the 732nd Squadron.
!
100 missions - "Liberty Run" of the 735th Squadron.
!
!
!
Page 5D8
!
Olive drab scheme showing unit marking on upper wing surface
!
!
!
Natural metal finish – later tail markings – still with unit markings on upper wing
Page D
59
Compiled and written by Keith Sowter, Aircraft of the
453rd is the most up to date resource outlining the
fate of the aircraft which operated from and used
Station 144: Old Buckenham during it’s wartime
service as the home of the 453rd Bombardment Group.
This first edition has been published to mark the
70th Anniversary of the opening of the base.
!
Today, Old Buckenham remains an airfield. It is one
of the most vibrant and well respected centres of
aviation in the UK. The home of the largest annual
airshow in Norfolk, the airfield is open all year
round and at it’s heart is a new memorial garden
celebrating the life of the 366 USAAF servicemen who
dies serving from the base during World War II
anniversary
Old Buckenham
USAAF Station 144
oldbuck.com
70
© 2013 Keith Sowter. Cover Design and pagination by Matt Wilkins

B-24J-20-FO Liberator 44-48816

Transcription

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