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USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 31st BS Former Assignments 394th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Constructors Number 1137. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-30-CO Liberator serial number 42-40100. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field to the South Pacific. Wartime History Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG) "Bomber Barons", 394th Bomb Squadron (394th BS). Nicknamed "Scootin' Thunder" with the nose art depicts a white lightning bolt outlined in black atop a globe on both sides of the nose. On the right side of the nose were bomb markings indicating missions flown. Assigned to pilot Oscar G. Fitzhenry with co-pilot Lt. Robert Houser. Later, assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Squadron (72nd BS). During 1943-1944 this B-24 flew bombing missions in the South Pacific (SOPAC). Afterwards flown back to the United States. On October 1, 1945 at RFC Altus, OK and likely scrapped sometime afterwards. Relatives Beth Houser (daughter of Robert Houser) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-30-CO Liberator 42-40100 "40100 to RFC Altus Oct 1, 1945" Scootin' Thunder (2006) by Beth Houser details this aircraft Scootin' Thunder Lecture at Long Beach Yacht Club by Beth Houser September 14, 2010 Courage Before Every Danger Honor Honor Before All Men (2010) by Joanne Pfannenstiel Emerick page 200 (photo of Fallin crew including Palmer with B-24D Scootin' Thunder 42-40100) Thanks to Oscar C. Fitzhenry and Beth Houser for additional information Contribute
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