 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
B-24H Liberator 42-51091 BANGIN' LULU
|
|
 |
|
| Manufacturing Data |
| Serial Number |
42-51091 |
| Model |
B-24H |
| Manufacturer |
Douglas - Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Production Block |
B-24H-20-DT |
| Color |
Silver aka NMF (Natural Metal Finish) |
|
|
| Group Data |
| Date Assigned to 492nd |
Replacement aircraft for the 858th BS
Flew its first mission 27 May 44 |
| Obtained From |
Replacement Depot |
| Flyover Pilot |
unknown |
| Total Missions w/492nd |
24 |
| Total WWII Missions |
unknown |
|
|
| Notes |
|
This aircraft came into the 492nd during late May either to replace one of the lost planes or as part of the J for H trade with the 458th fro PROJECT AZON. Which plane it replace is unknown.
|
|
|
858th Squadron Code: 9A
|
|
Tail Code: N- (underlined)
|
|
The nose art was inspired by an Alberto Vargas "Varga Girl" illustration. See the photos link.
|
|
|
19 Jun 44: Reassigned to the 857th BS when the 858th was cut from the Group. It was used to replace 44-40106 lost on 20 Jun 44.
|
|
857th Squadron Code: 9H
|
|
Tail Code: -F (overlined)
|
|
The mission record below might contain errors, as there were two planes with last three digets 091. The  in the "Notes" column below indicates the missions confirmed thus far (see Footnotes).
|
|
|
6 Aug 44: Heavily damaged it was crashlanded at Metfield, home of the 491st BG. Initial reports claimed it was damaged beyond repair. Apparently it was fixed and put back into service.
|
|
|
Transferred to the 446th BG, 704th BS
|
|
Returned to USA during Jun 45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mission Record
|
|
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 858th BS
|
| Date |
Mission |
Mission # |
Pilot |
Crew |
|
| 27 May 44 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
|
Landry |
817 |
 Target: marshalling yard |
| 28 May 44 |
Zeitz, Germany |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 29 May 44 |
Politz, Germany |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 30 May 44 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
|
Platinsky |
816 |
Target: Air depot |
| 2 Jun 44 |
Burck-sur-Mer, France |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Tactical |
| 4 Jun 44 |
Avord, France |
|
Platinsky |
816 |
Target: Airfield |
| 6 Jun 44 |
invasion coast, France |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Tactical |
| 6 Jun 44 |
Vire, France |
|
Monroe |
R-01 |
Target: Tactical
Aborted |
|
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 857th BS
|
| 20 Jun 44 |
Politz, Germany |
|
Taylor |
R-04 |
Target: Oil refineries |
| 22 Jun 44 |
St Cyr, France |
|
Skorupan |
703 |
Target: Airfield |
| 25 Jun 44 |
Roye, France |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Peronne Airfield |
| 27 Jun 44 |
Creil, France |
|
Frantz |
803 |
Target: Marshalling yard
Shown as bombing target on mission log, but is not on the formation sheet |
| 28 Jun 44 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
|
Simon |
R-03 |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted, uncredited |
| 29 Jun 44 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
|
Koltun |
R-10 |
Target: Aircraft industry |
| 6 Jul 44 |
Kiel, Germany |
|
Nelson |
714 |
Target: Shipyard |
| 8 Jul 44 |
Alost, Belgium |
|
Rasmussen |
R-02 |
Target: Railroad bridge
Couldn't drop bombs |
| 11 Jul 44 |
Munich, Germany |
|
Flanagan |
705 |
Target: Railroad station |
| 12 Jul 44 |
Munich, Germany |
|
Cravens |
R-24 |
Target: Railroad station |
| 16 Jul 44 |
Saarbrucken, Germany |
|
Flanagan |
705 |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 18 Jul 44 |
Troarns, France |
|
Thompson |
R-40 |
Target: Tactical
Lent to the 856th BS |
| 20 Jul 44 |
Erfurt, Germany |
|
Perry |
R-21 |
Target: Airfield |
| 21 Jul 44 |
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany |
|
Cravens |
R-24 |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing |
| 24 Jul 44 |
St Lo area, France |
|
Flanagan |
705 |
Target: Tactical |
| 25 Jul 44 |
St Lo area, France |
|
Flanagan |
705 |
Target: Tactical
Aborted, uncredited |
| 31 Jul 44 |
Ludwigshafen, Germany |
|
Skorupan |
703 |
Target: Chemical plant |
| 4 Aug 44 |
Kiel, Germany |
|
Skorupan |
703 |
Target: Submarine base |
| 5 Aug 44 |
Brunswick, Germany |
|
Skorupan |
703 |
Target: Aircraft manufacturing
Skorupan Crew's 30th mission |
| 6 Aug 44 |
Hamburg, Germany |
|
Flanagan |
705 |
Target: Oil refinery
Severely damaged by flak
Crashlanded at Metfield, 1 WIA |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
