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| Manufacturing Data |
| Serial Number |
44-40130 |
| Model |
B-24J |
| Manufacturer |
Consolidated - San Diego, California |
| Production Block |
B-24J-145-CO |
| Color |
Silver aka NMF (Natural Metal Finish) |
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| Group Data |
| Date Assigned to 492nd |
Original aircraft for the 859th BS |
| Obtained From |
Consolidated |
| Flyover Pilot |
Capt Louis Jaques Crew 909 |
| Total Missions w/492nd |
20 |
| Total WWII Missions |
20 |
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| Notes |
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859th Squadron Code: X4
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Tail Code: Q+
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To our knowledge this aircraft was never given a nickname or had any nose art painted on it.
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12 Jul 44: Lost w/Smith Crew 906
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On approach to the target, they were hit directly by a flak shell. It entered through the ball turret, killing the gunner inside, and then bounced around inside the plane but failed to detonate. The damage began an oxygen fire on board, disabled some of the hydraulics and knocked out communications.
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Heavily damaged, Smith tried to make it to Switzerland. They didn't have any maps with them to navigate to Switzerland by. Using what they could, they found the Alps poking through the heavy cloud layer. They found a break in the clouds over what they thought was Switzerland but it turned out to be the Italian Alps instead.
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Luftwaffe pilot Ewald Schummer, flying with 5/JG 77, was given credit for forcing down the Smith Crew at Ghedi Airfield, Italy.
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1 KIA, 10 POW, MACR 7563
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Two days later, 14 Jul 44, the 15th Air Force dispatched 13 P-38s from the 82nd FG with an escort by the 14 FG to destroy the plane. At 1830 hours they demolished it with 12,500 pounds of bombs.
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Aircraft was replace with 44-10496 PURITANICAL BITCH from the replacement depot.
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Mission Record
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Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 859th BS
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| Date |
Mission |
Mission # |
Pilot |
Crew |
Notes |
| 12 May 44 |
Zeitz, Germany |
|
Jaques |
909 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 15 May 44 |
Siracourt, France |
|
Uebelhoer |
904 |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 24 May 44 |
Melun, France |
|
Smiley |
910 |
Target: Airfield |
| 29 May 44 |
Politz, Germany |
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Uebelhoer |
904 |
Target: Oil refinery
w/Green |
| 30 May 44 |
Rotenburg, Germany |
|
Smiley |
910 |
Target: Air depot |
| 31 May 44 |
Brussels, Belgium |
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Uebelhoer |
904 |
Target: Marshalling yard
Aborted |
| 4 Jun 44 |
Avord, France |
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Harding |
902 |
Target: Airfield
Deputy lead w/Taylor |
| 6 Jun 44 |
Invasion coast, France |
|
Wolf |
911 |
Target: Tactical |
| 8 Jun 44 |
Angers, France |
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Uebelhoer |
904 |
Target: Tactical
Led D section |
| 14 Jun 44 |
Emmerich, Germany |
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Prewitte |
916 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 15 Jun 44 |
Tours, France |
|
Jacks |
918 |
Target: Railroad bridge
Bombed target in Le Mans |
| 19 Jun 44 |
Courbronne, France |
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Prewitte |
916 |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 20 Jun 44 |
Politz, Germany |
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Prewitte |
916 |
Target: Oil refineries |
| 21 Jun 44 |
Genshagen, Germany |
|
Bowman |
914 |
Target: Aircraft industry |
| 22 Jun 44 |
Crepy, France |
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Prewitte |
916 |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 23 Jun 44 |
Juvincourt, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Airfield |
| 25 Jun 44 |
La Vaupeliere, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Tactical |
| 27 Jun 44 |
Creil, France |
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Prewitte |
916 |
Target: Marshalling yard
Shown on the mission log, but not on the formation sheet. A hard-to-read note said something about them landing at Kings North |
| 29 Jun 44 |
Magdeburg, Germany |
|
Harding |
902 |
Target: Aircraft industry |
| 12 Jul 44 |
Munich, Germany |
|
Smith |
906 |
Target: Railroad station
Led B Section
Lost, 1 KIA, 10 POW, MACR 7563 |
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