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| USN FAW-1 VD-1 |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation at San Diego as model 32. Constructors Number 1268. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24J-205-CO Liberator serial number 42-40191. Assigned to the U.S. Navy (USN) as PB4Y-1 Liberator 31998. Wartime History Assigned to Fleet Air Wing One (FAW-1), Photographic Squadron One (VD-1). Nicknamed "Bonnie Bee" in block letters on the right side of the nose with "98" the last two digits of the bureau number. This bomber was specially equipped for photographic reconnaissance missions. During 1943 operated from Carney Field (Bomber 2) on Guadalcanal and flew photographic missions in the South Pacific (SoPAC). On November 26, 1943 took off from Carney Field piloted by Lt(jg) Engel on a photographic mapping mission to photograph Blanche Harbor in the Treasury Islands. Next, proceeded to the southern coast of Bougainville to photograph Japanese positions near Monoitu then returned to Guadalcanal at 2:34pm. On November 29, 1943 at 615am took off from Carney Field piloted by Lt(jg) Engel on a photographic mapping mission over the Torokina on Bougainville taking verticals from the Laruma River to the Torokina River and obliques from Piva to Torokina. During the flight, the crew received a radio message to shoot special oblique of Japanese positions at the fork in the Torokina River. Afterwards, this film was air dropped to the forward echelon on Bougainville then returned to Guadalcanal at 2:10pm. On November 30, 1943 at 6:20am took off from Carney Field piloted by Lt(jg) Engel on a mission to photograph the Torokina area of Bougainville then returned to Guadalcanal at 3:02pm. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-35-CO Liberator 42-40191 "40191 to USN as PB4Y-1 31998" Navy Serial Number Search Results - PB4Y-1 Liberator 31998 "38917 ex USAAF 44-41322" Fleet Air Photographic Squadron One - War Diary November 1943 (Page 11) November 26 (Page 12) November 29, November 30 Fleet Air Photographic Squadron One - War Diary December 1943 Contribute
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