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| USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS
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Aircraft History Built by Boeing at Seattle. Constructors Number 3207. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-17F-20-BO Flying Fortress serial number 41-24522. On Jul 29, 1942 flown to Lowry Field. On Aug 31, 1942 flown to Hamilton Field then ferried via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia arriving in early September 1942. Wartime History On September 17, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On November 16, 1942 shortly after midnight while parked at Iron Range Airfield, during take off B-24D "Bombs To Nip On" 41-23942 collided with parked bombers then caught fire and the bomb load exploded. In the blast, this B-17 sustained severe damage to the rear fuselage but no crew were aboard. Also damaged were B-24D 41-23765, B-24D 41-23812 and B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751 (all three later repaired) plus eleven personnel killed. Afterwards, this bomber was written off and parts salvaged including all four engines then abandoned in a bone yard area at Iron Range Airfield. Administratively, this B-17 was written off October 31, 1944. Steve Birdsall adds: "There's a bit of confusion about the date - the 90th [BG] was taking off shortly before midnight on November 16, according to my sources. The accident cost "three B-24s and one B-17, one gas dump and 12 men" according to one eyewitness, but there are quite a few variations on this." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-17F-20-BO Flying Fortress 41-24522 Oz@War - 16 November 1942 crash of a B-24 Liberator at iron Range 4 aircraft destroyed 11 men killed Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) pages 80 (photos), 81 (November 16, 1942 accident), 330 (403rd BS 41-24522) Thanks to Steve Birdsall for additional information Contribute
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