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B-24H Liberator   42-50313   WABASH CANNON BALL
 42-50313
Manufacturing Data
Serial Number 42-50313
Model B-24H
Manufacturer Consolidated - Fort Worth, Texas
Production Block B-24H-20-CF
Color Olive Drab aka OD
Group Data
Date Assigned to 492nd Replacement aircraft for the 857th
Flew its first mission 25 May 44
Obtained From Replacement Depot
Flyover Pilot unknown
Total Missions w/492nd 22
Total WWII Missions 91
Notes
Our theory is this plane was sent from the replacement depot to replace one of the 857th planes given to the 458th BG for PROJECT AZON. It arrived shortly after the 19 May mission and was used to replace one of the three planes lost on that mission. We do not know which plane it replaced but most likely it was either 44-40088 or 42-110151.
857th Squadron Code: 9H
Tail Code: -A (overlined)
By 4 Jul 44, this plane was reassigned to the 856th BS to replace 41-29470 which was lost on 23 Jun 44. Our theory is since the 857th borrowed and lost 41-29470, they owed the 856th another plane. So they gave them this one.
856th Squadron Code: 5Z
Tail Code: O
18 Jul 44, aircraft made an emegency landing at an allied-held airstrip in France. By the time it was repaired, the 492nd had been disbanded.
Transferred to the 392nd BG, 578th BS.
The photo above is believed to had been taken while at the 392nd BG.
578th Squadron Code: EC
Tail Code: W
After being used for a whopping total of 91 missions, it was returned to the USA 29 May 45.
More Info
(No other photos)
Heber Crew 705
Bridges Crew 702
O'Sullivan Crew 713
Liggett Crew 701
Koltun Crew R-10
Newman Crew 913
Rasmussen
Crew R-02
Gossett Crew 708
Scott Crew 712
Leahy Crew R-17
Cary Crew R-16
Young Crew R-27
Pitsenbarger
Crew R-26
Shannon Crew R-32
Vowinkel Crew R-35
41-29470
Links to missions
flown by this plane
are below in the
Mission Record
392nd BG site
Mission Record
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 857th BS
Date Mission Mission # Pilot Crew Notes
25 May 44 Belfort, France
 Link to Mission 09 page 09
Heber 705 Target: Marshalling yard
28 May 44 Zeitz, Germany
 Link to Mission 11 page 11
Heber 705 Target: oil refinery
30 May 44 Rotenburg, Germany
 Link to Mission 13 page 13
Heber 705 Target: Air depot
31 May 44 Brussels, Belgium
 Link to Mission 14 page 14
Bridges 702 Target: Marshalling yard
2 Jun 44 Burck-sur-Mer, France
 Link to Mission 15 page 15
Heber 705 Target: Tactical
4 Jun 44 Avord, France
 Link to Mission 16 page 16
O'Sullivan 713 Target: Airfield
6 Jun 44 invasion coast, France
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
Liggett 701 Target: Tactical
Bombed with 392nd B section
8 Jun 44 Angers, France
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
Heber 705 Target: Tactical
12 Jun 44 Dreux, France
 Link to Mission 25 page 25
Koltun R-10 Target: Airfield
14 Jun 44 Emmerich, Germany
 Link to Mission 26 page 26
Heber 705 Target: Oil refinery
20 Jun 44 Politz, Germany
 Link to Mission 34 page 34
Newman 913 Target: Oil Refineries
Lent to the 859th BS
22 Jun 44 St Cyr, France
 Link to Mission 38 page 38
Rasmussen R-02 Target: Airfield
23 Jun 44 Juvincourt, France
 Link to Mission 39 page 39
Gossett 708 Target: Airfield
25 Jun 44 Roye, France
 Link to Mission 40b page 40b
Scott 712 Target: Peronne Airfield
28 Jun 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 42 page 42
Scott 712 Target: Marshalling yard
29 Jun 44 Magdeburg, Germany
 Link to Mission 43 page 43
Scott 712 Target: Aircraft industry
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 856th BS
4 Jul 44 Beaumont, France
 Link to Mission 44 page 44
Leahy R-17 Target: Airfield
6 Jul 44 Kiel, Germany
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
Cary R-16 Target: Shipyard
12 Jul 44 Munich, Germany
 Link to Mission 49 page 49
Young R-27 Target: Railroad station
13 Jul 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 50 page 50
Pitsenbarger R-26 Target: Marshalling yard
16 Jul 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 51 page 51
Shannon R-32 Target: Marshalling yard
18 Jul 44 Troarns, France
 Link to Mission 52 page 52
Vowinkel R-35 Target: Tactical
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Page last modified Sunday, January 3, 2010.