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| USAAF 13th AF 5th BG 23rd BS Former Assignments 31st BS  5th BG c1943 |
Pilot ? Crew George Chernowski Force Landed March 1, 1944 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Consolidated at a cost of $297,627. Acquired by the U.S. Army under contract AC-26620. Constructors Number 2307. On July 21, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-150-CO Liberator serial number 42-41230. Next, flown to Tucson, AZ for modification then to Lincoln, Nebraska. On August 23, 1943 departs on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to the South Pacific (SoPAC). Assigned to the 13th Air Force (13th AF), 5th Bombardment Group (5th BG), 31st Bombardment Squadron (31st BS) and nicknamed "Snow Job" with nose art depicting a Hawaiian girl doing hula dance under a palm tree. This B-24 flew at least 32 combat missions and claimed at least two fighters shot down. Later, assigned to the 23rd Bombardment Squadron (23rd BS). Mission History On March 1, 1944 took off from Munda Airfield on New Georgia Island a bombing mission against Kahili Airfield on southern Bougainville. The crew included George Chernowski. One of ten B-24s from the 5th BG, 23rd BS plus eleven B-24s from 5th BG, 31st BS. Over the target, this bomber was hit by anti-aircraft fire and damaged. Returning, this B-24 made an emergency landing at Stirling Airfield on Stirling Island. At the time, the airfield was under construction, and afterwards the wreckage pushed off the side of the runway to clear it away. This B-24 was officially, condemned due to accident on May 24, 1945. Wreckage This B-24 was likely pushed off the cliff at the end of the runway at the end of the war, or may have also been scrapped before or after the war. Relatives Bob Moll (nephew of crew member George Chernowski): "I may be wrong but I think the B-24 my Uncle was in is the very same one the crew flew from the States to the South Pacific. My records indicate my Uncles Crew arrived in the South Pacific in 13th of September 1943.The Aircraft Record Card also establishes it was sent to the South Pacific in August 1943 which matches up with the arrival in Sept after multiple stops along the way. When I interviewed the Pilot and Co-pilot a number of years ago they never mentioned a plane by the name of (“SNOW JOB” ) nor did indicate they were flying a “borrowed” plane." References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-150-CO Liberator 42-41230 Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) B-24D Liberator 42-41230 Thanks to Bob Moll for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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