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  B-24D-130-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-41086  
USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65th BS

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 2163. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-130-CO Liberator serial number 42-41086. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). No known nickname or nose art.

On October 18, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome (Jackson) near Port Moresby piloted by ? and co-pilot 1st Lt. William R. Bryan on a bombing mission against Rabaul. This B-24 was one of nearly eighty B-24 Liberators in a mixed formation of bombers from the 43rd Bombardment Group, 90th Bombardment Group and 380th Bombardment Group. This B-24 was the lead aircraft of the second echelon. The mission was the 65th Bombardment Squadron mission number 280 H.

Inbound to the target, the formation encountered bad weather and aborted the mission and bombed Cape Hoskin instead. Returning from the mission at 8,000', as the formation entered a thunder storm but this B-24 landed safely at 7 Mile Drome. Due to bad weather, the mission cost four bombers: B-24D "Sky Lady" 41-24043, B-24D 42-40670, B-24D 42-40885 and B-24D 41-41088.

This B-24 was not lost on a combat mission or an accident. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-130-CO Liberator 42-41086
Missing Air Crew Report 964 (MACR 964) page 11

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Last Updated
October 17, 2022

 

Tech Information
B-24
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