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| USAAF 5th AF 3rd BG 8th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Douglas. Constructors Number unknown. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-24 Dive Bomber serial number unknown. Disassembled and shipped overseas across the Pacific and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS). Tail number 14. No known nose art or nickname. On April 24, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby piloted 1st Lt. Virgil A. Schwab on a flight to Navos near Wau escorted by No. 75 Squadron P-40E Kittyhawk pilot John Piper to rescue Squadron Leader John F. Jackson who bailed out of P-40E Kittyhawk A29-24 on April 10, 1942. After landing safely, Jackson sat in the rear gunner position. Returning to 7 Mile Drome, Schwab buzzed the runway to signal the mission was a success. While landing, an A6M2 Zero intercepted and this plane was hit by gunfire including a 20mm cannon shell. Inside, Jackson's right hand index fingertip was severed by shrapnel. Meanwhile, escorting P-40E Kittyhawk pilot John Piper attempted to drive away the Zero. To evade further attacks, the A-24 aborted the landing and flew to nearby 3 Mile Drome (Kila Drome) and landed safely. Afterwards, at least two photographs were taken of Schwab and Jackson with the plane. References This aircraft might have been nicknamed or referred to as "Shwab's Wagon" for pilot 1st Lt. Virgil A. Schwab. The serial number of this aircraft is unknown, possibly A-24 41-15819 lost July 29, 1942 piloted by Schwab or any A-24 in service with the 8th Bombardment Squadron (8th BS) on April 24, 1942. A photograph of this plane after landing shows tail number 14. Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis Contribute
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