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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 498th BS
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Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8199. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-5 Mitchell serial number 41-30034. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Modified into a B-25D-1 strafer variant at the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During March 1943, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons". Nicknamed "The Wolf Pack", also listed as simply "The Wolf (Pack)". Assigned to pilot Cope and crew chief Puser and flew combat missions over New Guinea. On April 5, 1944 took off on a low level strike mission against Hollandia. On April 8, 1944 transfered to the 500th Bomb Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders" and retained the same nickname. On April 28, 1944 took off piloted by F/O Roland P. Thomas leading the second flight on a strike against Sawar Airfield. Over the target, scored a direct bomb hit on a parked Ki-43 Oscar in a dispersal area. On August 9, 1944 took off piloted by 1st Lt. Robert H. Whitsell leading the squadron on a strike against Wasile Bay and set fire to supplies on the main jetty and beyond Tokoyoshan Maru. Mission History On September 2, 1944 took off from Mokmer Drome on Biak on a mission against Langoan Airfield on Celebes (Sulawesi). When fighter escort did not rendezvous with the formation, they diverted to the secondary target of enemy installations along Lembeh Strait. Arriving the target, the formation spit up with six B-25 led by Major Mortensen striking Lembeh. At the southwest entrance of Lembeh Strait an intense anti-aircraft barrage was fired by Minelayer Itsukushima that damaged this bomber and B-25D "Avoca Avenger" 41-30161. Returning, both damaged planes made an emergency landing at Middleburg Airfield. Afterwards, transfered to the 11th Airdrome Squadron and written off and scrapped. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Roland P. Thomas USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 41-30034 Warpath Across The Pacific The Illustrated History of the 345th Bombardment Group During World War II (1996) pages 36 (photo), 151 (photo), 159-160 (April 28, 1944), 176 (August 9, 1944 photo), 183-184 (September 2, 1944), 381 (41-30094, 498th BS), 393 (41-30094, 500th BS), 447 (index The Wolf Pack) Contribute
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