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| USAAF 5th AF 38th BG 823rd BS Former Assignments 22nd BG 408th BS 33rd BS  22nd BG 1943 |
Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructors Number 87-8730. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25D-20 Mitchell serial number 41-30056. Flown by 2nd Lt. Robert L. Hale on a ferry flight overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia. Converted into a B-25D-1 strafer variant by the 4th Air Depot at Garbutt Field in Townsville. Wartime History During August 1943 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 33rd Bombardment Squadron (33rd BS). Assigned to pilot Lt. Robert M. Pearson. Nicknamed "Flyin' Fannie" with the nose art of a nude woman. It is possible the nickname was not painted on the bomber. Later, renamed "Little Stinky". On October 9, 1943 first mission piloted by Lt. Robert M. Pearson on a reconnaissance mission over the Vitiaz Strait as far west as Bogadjim. This B-25 flew at least 40 missions with the squadron. In January 1944 assigned to the 408th Bombardment Squadron (408th BS). Retained the nickname "Little Stinky". On January 14, 1944 first mission with the squadron. In total, this B-25 flew at least 16 missions with the squadron. By the end of the month, transfered to V Bomber Command replacement pool. Later, assigned to the 38th Bombardment Group (38th BG) "Sun Setters", 823rd Bombardment Squadron (823rd BS) "The Terrible Tigers" at Nadzab Airfield. It is unknown if the plane retained the nickname and nose art. Mission History On June 3, 1944 during take off from Nadzab Airfield on a weather reconnaissance mission, swerved off the left side of the runway and lost the left main landing gear and collided with a jeep killing Major Willmor I. Pavlich and 1st Lt. George J. Maturi who had performed a sweep down the runway for obstacles. The crew managed to escape, the only injury was the navigator who sprained his foot. Damaged, this B-25 caught fire and was destroyed. Pavlich is buried at Sparrowbush Pine Hill Cemetery in Sparrow Bush, NY in plot south 542. He is also memorialized at the a veterans monument plaque at Port Jervis, NY. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25D-5 Mitchell 41-30565 Fifth Air Force Statistical Summary June 1944 Bombers Page 1 "3 / B-25D / 41-30565 / 823 SQ, 38 GP / Take off on weather recon. Swerved off left of runway. Lost left main gear. Crashed into parked jeep killing 2 passengers of the jeep. Plane total loss. Destroyed by fire. Navigator, sprained foot." Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 118, 198 (October 9, 1943), 501 (33rd BS, 41-30765 [sic 41-30565], 506 (408th BS, 41-30765 [sic 41-30565], 614 (index Little Stinky), 618 (index Pearson, Robert M.) Sun Setters of the Southwest Pacific Area (2011) pages 251 AII-9 (June 3, 1944, B-25D 41-30565 / Maturi), AIII-29-AIII 35 does not list this 41-30565 as assigned to the 823rd BS FindAGrave - George J Maturi (grave photo) FindAGrave - Maj Willmor L. Pavlich (photo, grave photo) Contribute
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