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  B-24D-65-CO "Snafu" Serial Number 42-40513  
USAAF
5th AF
380th BG
529th BS

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Goh Loon 2008

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated between March 3-17, 1943. Constructors Number 1590. On March 18, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-65-CO Liberator serial number 42-40513. Ferried via Hickam Field across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG) "The Flying Circus", 529th Bombardment Squadron (529th BS) at Manbulloo Field. Nicknamed "Snafu".

On September 15, 1943 suffered a nose wheel collapse at Fenton Field. On October 26, 1943 officially condemned and placed into the bone yard and scrapped.

Wreckage
Part of the rear fuselage inducing the right waist window was later recovered and displayed at Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (Darwin Aviation Museum).

Bob Alford adds:
"The original data plate from the aircraft was given to me by one of the 380th BG ground crew when the Association visited Darwin in 1992. He 'souvenired' it when Snafu was salvaged at the Fenton aircraft graveyard - it is also mounted inside the fuselage, which has patched up bullet holes and the remains of combat damage to it."

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-65-CO Liberator 42-40513
"40513 scrapped at Fenton mid-Sept 1943 after nose wheel accident. Condemned Oct 26, 1943"
380th BG Association - B-24D "Snafu" 42-40513 Data Sheet
380th BG Association - B-24D "Snafu" 42-40513 Mission Record
Thanks to Bob Alford and Goh Loon for additional information

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Last Updated
September 11, 2025

 

Tech Info
B-24
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