|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 90th BG 319th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 559. On August 4, 1942 accepted by the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-5-CO Liberator serial number 41-23764. On August 17, 1942 flown to St. Paul, MN. On September 6, 1942 flown to SAD (SAD). On September 16, 1942 departs for Maestro code name for Hawaii then onward to Sumac (Australia). Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) "Jolly Rogers", 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS). Nicknamed "Contrary Mary" with a "V" for Victory between the two words painted with a black shadow. On the left side of the nose below the cockpit was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown and the silhouette of a ship. Below the co-pilot window was artwork depicting a ship hit by a bomb with the word "Boom!" indicating a claim for a Japanese ship. During late 1942 or 1943, based at Iron Range Airfield in Queensland and became part of a 319th Bombardment Squadron (319th BS) detachment operating from Fenton Field in the Northern Territory. On June 30, 1943 while parked at Fenton Field destroyed during a Japanese bombing raid. Afterwards, this bomber was condemned, accident, non-combat (CONN ACC NC). Sometime afterwards, the left tail from this bomber was installed as a replacement was used as a replacement right tail fin for B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751. The remainder of the bomber was likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References The serial number of this aircraft is sometimes confused with B-24D "Big Emma" 41-23751 in published sources. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-5-CO Liberator 41-23764 Individual Aircraft Reference Card (IARC) B-24D 41-23764 PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 41-23764 Bruce Hoy adds: "Claringbould's books, Forty of the Fifth and The Forgotten Fifth gives two identities for "Big Emma". The first book lists 41-23751 and the second 41-23764. Peter Dunn's website makes reference to a combat diary which quotes Iverson as the pilot for 41-23751 with the nickname “Big Emma”, although the two pages of a diary that was pictured on the web page do not give a corresponding nickname in the same manner that several other B-24s have had their nicknames mentioned, B-24D "Pudgy" 41-23830 and B-24D "Patches" 41-23673 although when these names were added and who actually added these names is unknown. Other pages in that diary may mention 41-23751 as being "Big Emma". Neither of the published histories, John Alcorn’s The Jolly Rogers or Wiley Woods Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group quote the serial number of "Big Emma", although Wiley in a letter to me mentions both the serial number and nickname." The Jolly Rogers (1981) mentions this aircraft but does not list the serial number The Best in the Southwest (1995) page 135 (photo) Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group (1997) mentions this aircraft but does not list the serial number Forty of the Fifth (1999) pages 58-62 [ sample chapter ] lists B-24 "Big Emma" serial number as 41-23751 [sic] The Forgotten Fifth (2007) lists B-24D "Big Emma" serial number as 41-23764 [sic] Thanks to Bruce Hoy, John Douglas and Robert Livingstone for additional information Contribute
Information Last Updated
|
 B-24  Photo Archive |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
