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| USAAF 5th AF 380th BG 528th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated in San Diego between July 8, 1943 until July 16, 1943 using funds F-1, order AC-24620 at a cost of $297,627.00. Constructors Number 2311. On July 19, 1943 first test flight. On July 22, 1943 delivered to the U. S Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-150-CO Liberator serial number 42-41234. On July 23, 1943 flown Tucson Tucson, AZ to the modification center. On August 9, 1943 to Oklahoma City, OK then to Love Field, TX. On August 11, 1943 to the Oklahoma City Air Depot at Tinker Field for the Oklahoma nose modification with a droop chin and Consolidated A-6 tail turret installed in the nose. On September 28, 1943 staged to Herington, Kansas. On October 6, 1943 took off from Fairfield-Suisun Airfield on a ferry flight via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia arriving October 14, 1943 at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 380th Bombardment Group (380th BG), 528th Bombardment Squadron (528th BS) as a replacement bomber operating from Fenton Field in the Northern Territory. This bomber flew five missions before it was damaged. Nicknamed "Career Girl" in an Old English style font on the left side of the nose. The nose art included a reclining nude figure on the right side of the nose. The tail had the serial number "241234" at the center. The upper left corner of the tail was painted white (with "241" of the serial number inside the white area). The edge of the entire tail was painted with a white outline. Possibly, also had "Lucky Lady" in a cursive style font on the side of the nose. On November 18, 1943 took off from Fenton Field piloted by Shek with crew no. 7 on its first combat mission (FEN III-26) a reconnaissance mission over Kaimana, Kokas and Selarue. On November 21, 1943 took off from Fenton Field piloted by Banks with crew no. 3 on mission (FEN III-27) a reconnaissance mission over Nabire, Manokwari, Sorong then returned. On November 24, 1943 took off from Fenton Field piloted by Brissey with a crew from Headquarters Squadron (HQ Sqn) on mission (FEN III-30) a bombing mission against Kaoe Bay (Kau) off Halmahera Island. During early December 1943 flown to Horanda 4Y (Dobodura No. 4) in New Guinea as part of the group's New Guinea deployment. On December 13, 1943 took off from Horanda 4Y (Dobodura No. 4) piloted Jack Bratton with crew no. 21 from the 530th Bombardment Squadron (530th BS) on bombing mission (347DD) against Hoskins Airfield. Wartime History On December 14, 1943 while taxiing at Horanda 4Y (Dobodura No. 4) piloted by Jack Bratton with crew no. 21 from the 530th Bombardment Squadron (530th BS) for a bombing mission (346DD) against Arawe. While taxing, the left landing gear leg collapsed causing the left wing and tail to drag on the ground. It is unclear if this bomber was taxing before or after the mission. Afterwards, dragged off the taxiway and was never repaired, likely due to main spar damage. On December 15, 1943 officially written off as condemned accident then stripped for usable parts then abandoned. Wreckage By the early 1970s, the fuselage with a portion of the left wing to the no. 2 engine nacelle and right wing to the no. 3 engine nacelle remained near Horanda 4Y. Most of the fuselage skin had pieces cut out by locals and the fuselage was damaged by bush fires. Local landowner Frank Egimbari moved the wreckage from where it was abandoned to the side of a former taxiway at Horanda Airfield for display. Since then, this bomber is one of the better known and easily accessible aircrat wrecks in Oro Province. Since the early 1970s, this bomber wreck located in the kunai grass and a well known and easily accessible aircraft wreck. Sometimes, small trees grow near the fuselage. In 1979, a trace of nose art on the fuselage was photographed by Bruce Hoy that appeared to include the letters "Luc" and "dy" on two lines, possibly "Lucky Lady". In the early 1970s, the front turret was attached. By 2000, the front turret was missing or removed. Charles Darby visited in 1972: "The well-known aircraft on Horanda 4Y is almost certainly 'Career Girl' although, I have never been able to find a number on the aircraft that confirms this. I visited the bomber in 1972 and even at that stage didn't see any trace of numbers or names. But it's always possible that I missed the critical items. Also, the record card states that 'Career Girl' was flown to Townsville for repairs, which doesn't match a 'scrapped on site' scenario. However, given the damage, the date, and the location I can't see it as likely to have been patched-up and flown out." Bruce Hoy visited in 1979: "I have recently scanned the slides I took when last visited [this wreck] on 25 July 1979 in the company of three 9yj Fighter Squadron pilots and these included its partial nickname." Justin Taylan adds: "I've visited this wreck in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Each time, I have searched for a serial number, but found none. Only, component dataplates from Consolidated, but none listing the aircraft's serial number." On August 24-25, 2018 the wreckage was photographed by a team from Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) and Australian Unrecovered War Casualty - Army (UWC-A) holding the POW/MIA flag. In fact, no American or Australian personnel were killed, injured, Prisoner Of War (POW) or Missing In Action (MIA) aboard this plane. References Note, some sources state this B-24 was assigned to the 90th Bombardment Group (90th BG) previously and incorrectly state this B-24 was damaged during take off or landing. Pete Johnston adds: "I can’t find any reference to 90BG and there is no reference to it in Wiley’s [Woods] Index. Given the short time 13 Oct / 18 Nov, between ARR in theatre and first mission from Fenton, it is more likely it was one of those aircraft “meant for” the 90th, but diverted to 380th for one reason or another." Two photogaphs after the accident have a photo caption has the date "(12-13-43)". It is unclear if this is an error or because the date was written in GMT time versus local time. Also, the photo caption lists the serial number as "B-24D-1-42-1234" [sic B-24D 42-41234]. Individual Aircraft Record Card (IARC) - B-24D 42-41234 USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-150-CO Liberator 42-41234 Pacific Aircraft Wrecks (1979) page 40 The Best in the Southwest (1995) page 129 (photo Jack Bratton), 447 (appendix 4) 380th Bomb Group Association - B-24D 42-41234 Career Girl data sheet 380th Bomb Group Association - B-24D 42-41234 Career Girl mission record listed mission December 14, 1943 [sic, damaged December 13, 1943] 380th Bomb Group Association - Tpye 3 – B-24D with Oklahoma City Modification Nose [PDF] page 5 380th Bomb Group Association - D model replacement aircraft [PDF] pages 4, 5, 10 380th Bomb Group Association - B-24D Glazed nose and nose turret variants [PDF] pages 21, 22, 27, 37 380th Bomb Group Association - Statistical Summary Fates of Our Aircraft - Australian and New Guinea Campaign [PDF] pages 7 DPAA Investigation in Papua New Guinea photos by USAF Staff Sgt. Matthew J. Bruch images 10 (4770424), 11 (4770427), 12 (4770430) and 23 (4770454) Thanks to Charles Darby, Bruce Hoy and Robert Livingstone and Pete Johnston for additional information Contribute
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