I enjoy researching military aviation and because of my Dad, the 492nd Bomb Group is of particular interest. I was on the group website reading about B-24J 44-40131. This airplane flew a record 34 missions with the 492nd. I clicked on "Wider view of above photo" and a second photo also appeared. The second photo was taken on Mission 54 to Erfurt. A B-24 is seen at a lower altitude with its number one engine feathered. The caption stated that, "We strongly suspect, but cannot confirm that the following photo is also of B-24J 44-40131."

My curiosity was piqued so I was determined to either confirm or correct this assumption. The photo shows a B-24 at a lower altitude with its number 1 engine feathered. What information could be gleaned from the photo? Four things about the airplane are apparent.

1. The "X4" on the fuselage is the designation of the 859th Bomb Squadron.
2. The pitot tubes (for measuring airspeed) were mounted on stanchions.
3. It was natural metal finish although the top of the fuselage is painted.
4. There appears to be some "nose art," meaning this airplane had a nickname.

The Liberator in question
click to enlarge

Finding the correct aircraft is now a process of elimination. There were 118 aircraft assigned to the 492nd Bomb Group. But only those assigned to the 859th Bomb Squadron are considered. That narrows it down to 38 planes. Next, pitot tubes were either mounted on stanchions or on the lower fuselage. Eliminate the airplanes without stanchions and the list is now down to 13. Cross those off the list that were lost prior to Mission 54 or did not fly that day. That leaves four. One of them was painted, three left. Only one of those had nose art and a nickname. It was B-24H 42-50439 and was nicknamed "Broad and High" by crew chief Robin Janton. The location and the general shape of the nose art with the photo of "Broad and High" are very similar.

As it turned out, my assumption was proven correct though I could have reached that conclusion more quickly. In Russell Ives' book "89 Days" Robert Kraft, a gunner on the Roseborough Crew R-18, described the mission. He said, "Bad luck again. No. 1 engine was pouring white smoke for about ½ an hour. Pilot had to feather it." The Roseborough crew had in fact flown Mission 54 in 42-50439.

Rick Centore Author, Deadly Decision