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| RAAF No. 7 OTU Former Assignments USAAF 5th AF 43rd BG 403rd BS    43rd BG c1943 |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in San Diego. Constructors Number 922. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator serial number 41-24127. Nicknamed ".50 Cal Gal" with the nose art of a reclining woman, likely painted in the United States before going overseas. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field and across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History In late April 1943 or early May 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS) at Mareeba Airfield. In early May, 1943 took off piloted by Major Jay P. Rousek (C.O. 403rd BS) on a flight from Garbutt Field to Port Moresby. Aboard was entertainer Joe E. Brown who was photographed standing next to the bomber by Sgt Frank Hohmann. Later, the original nickname was painted over and renamed "Valhalla" on the right side of the nose and shortly afterwards painted over and the nose art of a reclining nude was painted stroking her black hair and nicknamed "Rio Rita" in yellow outlined as black. The nose wheel hub was painted white with a six pointed star shape in red. During June 1943, took off on a night bombing mission against Rabaul with other B-24s and B-17s. The crew were pilot Captain Goudy, co-pilot, 1st Lt. Alton G. Boyd, bombardier 1st Lt Walter E. Buchanan, navigator 1st Lt. McMahon, engineer SSgt Harold B. Peterson, radio operator Sgt Cowan, tail gunner SSgt B. O. Yawn, gunner Cpl D. R. McNight, assistant radio-gunner B. E. Adam. Also aboard was Sydney Sun newspaper reporter Allan Dawes who afterwards wrote afterwards wrote the article "Nightmare Trip In Blazing Bomber" about the mission. Later in June 1943 went to Garbutt Field for modification including replacement of the green house nose with n Emerson nose turret and removal of the Sperry ball turret with a pair of .50 caliber machine guns on a scarff ring and a tail wheel under the tail skid. In July 1943 returned to the squadron and the style of the nickname was changed. On August 29, 1943 took off from 7 Mile Drome piloted by 1st Lt. George A. Putnam armed with 1,000 pound bombs on a bombing mission against Wewak. Over the target, encountered anti-aircraft fire and intercepted by Japanese fighters. After the bomb run, took evasive maneuvers to avoid Japanese fighters that damaged the no. 2 and no. 3 engines, they hydraulic system and oxygen system and right waist gunner SSgt Howard J. Bogle was severely wounded and died before the bomber returned to land. While returning to land, the nose gear would not lower and crash landed nose down and was damaged. Afterwards, transfered out of the squadron and repaired. On May 22, 1944 transfered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Liberator A72-10. Nose number 10 for the last two digit of the serial number. It is unknown if the bomber retained the prior "Rio Rita" nickname or nose art. Assigned to No. 7 Operational Training Unit (7 OTU) at Tocumwal Airfield and used for crew training. Fate During December 1952 , stricken from charge at Tocumwal Airfield and afterwards broken up for scrap. Memorials Bogle who died aboard on the August 29, 1943 mission was buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at plot C grave 848. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Howard J. Bogle USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-20-CO Liberator 41-24127 Sydney Sun "Nightmare Trip In Blazing Bomber" June 23, 1943 FindAGrave - SSgt Howard James Bogle (grave photos) Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume I (2016) page 177 (photo), 220 (profile 24), 224 (profile 24 detail), 266-267 (August 29, 1943), 267 (photos force landing), 373 (profile 24 description), 401 (index Rio Rita), 406 (index Valhalla) Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume I (2020) pages 220 (profile 24), 224 (profile 24 detail), 275-276 (August 29, 1943), 276 (photos crash landed), 329-330 (August 29, 1943), 382 (profile 24 description), 183 (photo), 410 (index Rio Rita), 415 (index Valhalla) Ken's Men Against The Empire Volume II (2022) pages 377 (403rd BS, 41-24127), 457 (index Rio Rita), 462 (index Valhalla) ADF Serials - Liberator A72-10 Thanks to Walter "Buck" Buchanan, Jr. for additional information Contribute
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