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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 500th BS Former Assignments 22nd BG 2nd BS 312th BG 387th BS 499th BS 498th BS |
Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8441. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-10 Mitchell serial number 41-30276. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia and modified. Wartime History During July 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) "Red Raiders", 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS). Nicknamed "Sir Beetle". Assigned to pilot Schalkle and later Turner. On October 14, 1943 8:15am took off from Dobodura on the plane's first mission as part of a mixed formation of B-25s and B-26s from all four squadrons from the 22nd BG on a bombing mission against Alexishafen. Over the target, the formation was targeted by inaccurate medium anti-aircraft fire that and bombed a gun battery and caused several fires. Only one bomber, B-25D "Batchelor Made" 41-30597 returned with a small shrapnel hole in the damage. In total, this B-25 flew 26 combat missions with the squadron. On January 29, 1943 assigned to the 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG), 498th Bombardment Squadron (498th BS) "Falcons". The bomber retained the nickname "Sir Beetle". On April 9, 1944 assigned to the 499th Bombardment Squadron (499th BS) "Bat Outta Hell". Again, this bomber retained the nickname "Sir Beetle". On April 29, 1944 transferred to the 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG) "Roarin' 20's", 387th Bombardment Squadron (387th BS). The bomber retained the nickname "Sir Beetle" and used as a fat cat transport. On January 14, 1945 removed from the squadron and abandoned in an aircraft boneyard on Biak. Afterwards, recovered by Captain Victor W. Tatelman, stripped to bare aluminum and the nose section of B-25J was installed with a nose guns and electronic equipment to detect Japanese radar signals as a radar ferret plane. The modified bomber was designated a B-25D-3 Mitchell and repainted with the nose "Bat Outta Hell" motif. The tail was blank, no motif or serial number. On February 7, 1945 assigned to the 500th Bombardment Squadron (500th BS) "Rough Raiders". Nicknamed "Dirty Dora II" after Tatelman's old aircraft, B-25C "Dirty Dora" 41-12971. This modified B-25 was detached for special service with 5th Bomber Command, Headquarters, but remained assigned to the 500th BS for servicing. During March 1945, operates from San Marcelino Airfield and Clark Field on Luzon in the Philippines. On June 21, 1945 took off from Clark Field on a radar ferret mission to locate a suspected radar installation on Cheung Chau Island (Erh Chow Island) off Hong Kong and photographed it at low level. Afterwards, transferred back to the 500th BS until the end of the Pacific War. Fate Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-10 Mitchell 41-30276 Warpath Across The Pacific (1996) pages 211 (photo color), 332 (modifications, photos), 382 (498th BS, 41-30276) 390 (499th BS, 41-30276), 393 (500th BS, 41-30276), 446 (index Sir Beetle), 439 (index Dirty Dora II) Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 199-201 (October 14, 1943), 492 (2nd BS, 41-30276), 621 (index Sir Beetle) Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 359 (387th BS, 41-30276), 413 (index Sir Beetle) Contribute
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