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B-24J Liberator   44-40157   LUCKY LASS
 44-40157
Manufacturing Data
Serial Number 44-40157
Model B-24J
Manufacturer Consolidated - San Diego, California
Production Block B-24J-150-CO
Color Silver aka NMF (Natural Metal Finish)
Group Data
Date Assigned to 492nd Original aircraft for the 857th BS
Obtained From Consolidated
Flyover Pilot 2nd Lt Wyman Bridges Crew 702
Total Missions w/492nd 19
Total WWII Missions unknown
Notes
857th Squadron Code: 9H
Tail Code: L- (overlined)
19 May 44: Lt Bridges earned the Distinguished Flying Cross by bringing this battered aircraft and his crew back to England. See: Bridges Crew 702
Transferred to the 856th to replace 44-40145 lost 7 Jul 44
856th Squadron Code: 5Z
Tail Code: R
16 Jul 44: The Nutt Crew R-28 was positioned in the rear of the B section. The entire Lead element had to abort along with the leader of the Slot element. This situation forced Lt Nutt to lead the high right squadron on his very first mission. No problems were encountered.
Transferred to 93rd BG, 329th BS, code marking, RE:W
Reassigned to 93rd BG, 328th BS, code marking, GO:L
Returned to USA on 26 May 45
More Info
plus two more
Bridges Crew 702
Gossett Crew 708
Rasmussen
Crew R-02
G Haag Crew 706
F Haag Crew 611
Beard Crew 603
Nutt Crew R-28
Both Crew R-44
Seger Crew R-31
Rusden Crew R-29
44-40145
Links to missions
flown by this plane
are below in the
Mission Record
93rd BG site
Mission Record
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 857th BS
Date Mission Mission # Pilot Crew Notes
11 May 44 Mulhouse, France
 Link to Mission 01 page 01
Bridges 702 Target: Marshalling yard
15 May 44 Siracourt, France
 Link to Mission 04 page 04
Gossett 708 Target: Crossbow (V-1 rockets)
19 May 44 Brunswick, Germany
 Link to Mission 05 page 05
Bridges 702 Target: Marshalling yard
Severely damaged, 3 WIA
25 Jun 44 Roye, France
 Link to Mission 40b page 40b
Gossett 708 Target: Peronne Airfield
28 Jun 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 42 page 42
Rasmussen R-02 Target: Marshalling yard
29 Jun 44 Magdeburg, Germany
 Link to Mission 43 page 43
G Haag 706 Target: Aircraft industry
Aborted, uncredited
Documented Missions with the 492nd BG, 856th BS
6 Jul 44 Kiel, Germany
 Link to Mission 45 page 45
F Haag 611 Target: Shipyard
13 Jul 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 50 page 50
Beard 603 Target: Marshalling yard
Bombed w/44th BG
16 Jul 44 Saarbrucken, Germany
 Link to Mission 51 page 51
Nutt R-28 Target: Marshalling yard
Assumed Lead of B Section
18 Jul 44 Troarns, France
 Link to Mission 52 page 52
Nutt R-28 Target: Tactical
19 Jul 44 Koblenz, Germany
 Link to Mission 53 page 53
Nutt R-28 Target: Marshalling yard
20 Jul 44 Erfurt, Germany
 Link to Mission 54 page 54
Nutt R-28 Target: Airfield
21 Jul 44 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
 Link to Mission 55 page 55
Nutt R-28 Target: Aircraft manufacturing
24 Jul 44 St Lo area, France
 Link to Mission 56 page 56
Nutt R-28 Target: Tactical
25 Jul 44 St Lo area, France
 Link to Mission 57 page 57
Nutt R-28 Target: Tactical
29 Jul 44 Oslebshausen, Germany
 Link to Mission 58 page 58
Both R-44 Target: Oil refinery
6 Aug 44 Hamburg, Germany
 Link to Mission 65 page 65
Seger R-31 Target: Oil refinery
Aborted, credit undetermined
7 Aug 44 Ostend, Belgium
 Link to Mission 66 page 66
Rusden R-29 Target: Oil dump
Plane lent to the 857th BS
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Page last modified Sunday, January 3, 2010.