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  B-25D "Runt's Roost" Serial Number 41-29727  
USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
90th BS

Click For Enlargement
USAAF c1943

Click For Enlargement
USAAF c1943

Aircraft History
Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-29727. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D Mitchell serial number 41-29727. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS). Assigned to Lt. Joseph "Runt" Helbert. Nicknamed "Runt's Roost" with nose art of a shark mouth and eye over the nose. The nose landing gear hub was painted with a pin wheel.

This B-25 was field modified with a 20mm cannon in the nose compartment and eight .50 caliber machine guns in the nose. During 1943, operated from Port Moresby and Dobodura flying combat missions over New Guinea.

Regular crew members included:
Pilot  Lt. Joseph "Runt" Helbert
Co-Pilot  F/O Ladd
Gunner  SSgt Epperson
Radio  Sgt Piper
Engineer  TSgt Nealy
Asst Engineer  SSgt Rush

Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D Mitchell 41-29727
Oz@War - Lt. Joseph "Runt" Helbert and B-25 "Run't Roost" 41-29727 90th Bomb Squadron, 3rd Bomb Group
Thanks to Edward Rogers for research and analysis

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Last Updated
January 10, 2023

 

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B-25

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