B-24, 44-40134 492nd BG
Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:43 am
Looking for photos or other info on B-24 from the 492nd BG
44-40134.
Lots of confusion if this or 42-110134 was the aircraft for the last mission.
by the crew.
My uncle top right in photo.
Below is from the 492nd website.
I have seen all the info they have.
29 May 1944
...on their eighth and final mission, the Gaulke Crew 602 again cheated
death during another battle with the Luftwaffe. This time they were
bombing the well-defended oil refineries at Politz. The Luftwaffe didn't get
them but the flak did. It had punctured their gas tanks. The engineer,
Fry, was wounded. They knew their ship could not reach England. They
had to attempt Sweden.
They made it to Sweden's southern coast where they found a small
airstrip in the middle of the woods. But it was too short to land a B-24.
Sgts Branch and Baker proposed tying their parachutes to the wasit
guns and opening them just as soon as the plane touches down. Gaulke
agreed to try it. Branch's side held but Baker's didn't. But it was enough
for Gaulke to bring the plane to a halt with a 100 feet to spare.
The crew was then interned in Sweden.
Thanks in advance for any info.
44-40134.
Lots of confusion if this or 42-110134 was the aircraft for the last mission.
by the crew.
My uncle top right in photo.
Below is from the 492nd website.
I have seen all the info they have.
29 May 1944
...on their eighth and final mission, the Gaulke Crew 602 again cheated
death during another battle with the Luftwaffe. This time they were
bombing the well-defended oil refineries at Politz. The Luftwaffe didn't get
them but the flak did. It had punctured their gas tanks. The engineer,
Fry, was wounded. They knew their ship could not reach England. They
had to attempt Sweden.
They made it to Sweden's southern coast where they found a small
airstrip in the middle of the woods. But it was too short to land a B-24.
Sgts Branch and Baker proposed tying their parachutes to the wasit
guns and opening them just as soon as the plane touches down. Gaulke
agreed to try it. Branch's side held but Baker's didn't. But it was enough
for Gaulke to bring the plane to a halt with a 100 feet to spare.
The crew was then interned in Sweden.
Thanks in advance for any info.
Thu Jun 12, 2008 11:26 am
B-24 Best Web claims this is your requested B-24...
Hope it helps.
kevin
http://www.b24bestweb.com/134.htm
Hope it helps.
kevin
http://www.b24bestweb.com/134.htm
Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:06 pm
Of the 8 B-24s which ended up in Sweden on the 29th of May 1944 only one belonged to the 492 BG: B-24H-21-FO 42-95011 which landed at the Swedish AF auxiliary base at Rinkaby at 12.38 LT. The a/c wore the code "9A-J".
About an half an hour later yet another B-24 arrived on the same airfield, this a/c belonged to 445 BG. Both Liberators were escorted into Rinkaby by Reggiane Re 2000s of the SwAF F 10 Wing.
About an half an hour later yet another B-24 arrived on the same airfield, this a/c belonged to 445 BG. Both Liberators were escorted into Rinkaby by Reggiane Re 2000s of the SwAF F 10 Wing.