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B-24J Liberator   44-40142   SKNAPPY
 44-40142
SKNAPPY after being interned in Sweden
Manufacturing Data
Serial Number 44-40142
Model B-24J
Manufacturer Consolidated - San Diego, California
Production Block B-24J-145-CO
Color Silver aka NMF (Natural Metal Finish)
Group Data
Date Assigned to 492nd Original aircraft for the 856th BS
Obtained From Consolidated
Flyover Pilot 2nd Lt James Kuntz Crew 616
Total Missions w/492nd 8
Total WWII Missions 8
Notes
856th Squadron Code: 5Z
Tail Code: K
The name SKNAPPY was conjured by combining 2nd Lt James Kuntz's girlfriend's lastname, Knappenburger, with a snapping turtle. The noseart had a flying turtle jumping over the name SKNAPPY.
A landing accident on 3 May 44 w/Kuntz Crew 616 put this a/c in the shop until D-Day.
20 Jun 44: Lost w/Seitzinger Crew 616
The plane was severely damaged after they had bombed the target and couldn't make it back to England.
10 interned in Sweden, MACR 7077
Flown back to England 16 Jun 45.
This aircraft was replaced with 44-40064.
More Info
plus another photo
Kuntz Crew 616
Seitzinger
Crew 616
Platinsky Crew 816
R Harris Crew 612
44-40064
Links to missions
flown by this plane
are below in the
Mission Record
Mission Record
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 858th BS
Date Mission Mission # Pilot Crew Notes
6 Jun 44 invasion coast, France
 Link to Mission 17 page 17
Seitzinger 616 Target: Tactical
8 Jun 44 Angers, France
 Link to Mission 20 page 20
Seitzinger 616 Target: Tactical
12 Jun 44 Dreux, France
 Link to Mission 25 page 25
Seitzinger 616 Target: Airfield
14 Jun 44 Chateaudun, France
 Link to Mission 27 page 27
Seitzinger 616 Target: Airfield
Aborted
15 Jun 44 Tours, France
 Link to Mission 28 page 28
Seitzinger 616 Target: Railroad bridge
17 Jun 44 Melun, France
 Link to Mission 29 page 29
Platinsky 816 Target: Airfield
Lent to the 858th
Bombed with another group
18 Jun 44 Bremerhaven, Germany
 Link to Mission 31 page 31
R Harris 612 Target: Airfield
Bombed target of opportunity
20 Jun 44 Politz, Germany
 Link to Mission 34 page 34
Seitzinger 616 Target: Oil refineries
Lost after target: 10 interned in Sweden, MACR 7077
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Page last modified Saturday, September 1, 2007.