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| Manufacturing Data |
| Serial Number |
44-40139 |
| 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 |
1st Lt James Bowman Crew 914 |
| Total Missions w/492nd |
8 |
| Total WWII Missions |
8 |
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| Notes |
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859th Squadron Code: X4
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Tail Code: U+
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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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Lost w/Bowman Crew 914 on 30 May 44
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Returning from a night training exercise, they called the tower to turn on the landing lights. At that exact same moment a fighter base at Snetterton turned their lights on. Bowman mistook it as North Pickenham and landed there. But soon ran out of runway, since fighter base runways are too short to accommodate a B-24. No one was injured, but the aircraft was totalled and salvaged.
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At this time we do not know which plane was brought in to replace this one. Our records do not show another 859th plane using this tail code.
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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 |
| 11 May 44 |
Mulhouse, France |
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Newman |
913 |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 12 May 44 |
Zeitz, Germany |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 15 May 44 |
Siracourt, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 21 May 44 |
Siracourt, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets) |
| 24 May 44 |
Melun, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Airfield |
| 25 May 44 |
Belfort, France |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Marshalling yard |
| 28 May 44 |
Zeitz, Germany |
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Bowman |
914 |
Target: Oil refinery |
| 30 May 44 |
Night Training Exercise |
xx |
Bowman |
914 |
Practicing night formations.
Lost: by an accident |
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