bomber Archives - Page 8 of 20 - Destination's Journey

North American B-25 Mitchell Nose Art Page 1

North American B-25 Mitchell The Big Swing

North American B-25 Mitchell Nose Art

Early Briefing

Eatin’ Kitty

North American B 25H Mitchell s/n 43 4909 Eatin’ Kitty of the 12th Air Force 12th Bomb Group 82nd Bomb Squadron 44 Eatin’ Kitty Oct 1943

Mexican Spitfire

North American B-25D-20 Mitchell “Mexican Spitfire” Serial Number 41-30592 of the 5th Air Force, 345th BG, 500th BS. All 5 crewmen were lost when she was hit by AA fire during a mission to bomb Langoon Airfield, September 2, 1944.

Rose’s Beau

North American B-25 s/n 43-3296 Mitchell Rose’s Beau of the 48th Bomb Squadron, 41st Bomb Group 7th Air Force

Sherry

North American B-25 Mitchell Sherry

Incendiary Blonde

North American B-25D-30 s/n 43-3403 Incendiary Blonde of 447 BS, 321 BG, Italy 1944. Hit by flak on 20 October 1944 and crashed. Of the five crew, two were killed, two captured and one evaded and returned to USA.

The Big Swing

North American B-25J Mitchell s/n 43-4067 of the 321st Bomb Group 448th Bomb Squadron coded 76, The Big Swing was hit by flak which damaged a wing. It crashed in Switzerland 7th Feb 1945.

The Ink Squirts

North American B-25 Mitchell s/n 43-28149 “The Ink Squirts” from the 41st Bombardment Group. The “Ink Squirts” was a cartoon in the base newspaper of the Sea Bees of the 94th Battalion, on Tarawa, 1944

The Vigorous Virgin

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Junkers Ju 86 in German Service

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Junkers Ju 86 in German Service

Designed as both a bomber for the Luftwaffe and transport for Luft Hansa, the Junkers Ju 86 first flew on 4 November 1934. Four Ju 86D bombers were sent to Spain during the Civil War, where it was found that the diesel engines could not withstand rough treatment during combat. Although production switched to the E version with radial engines, it was inferior to the Heinkel He 111 and production was cut back.

By the start of the Second World War, the Ju 86 had been relegated to training units, apart from III./KG 1 “Hindenburg” which used them in Poland. During the attempt to supply surrounded German troops at Stalingrad in 1942, many Ju 86 were reallocated to transport units.

In 1940, the Luftwaffe had 40 early model Ju 86s converted to Ju 86P-1 high-altitude bombers and Ju 86P-2 photo-reconnaissance aircraft. During early 1941 the reconnaissance version flew sorties over Britain, but these stopped when Hitler invaded Russia (Operation Barbarossa). By mid-1942 the pressurized bomber version was available, and flew about a dozen nuisance raids over southern England. After the RAF mounted a special interception squadron using modified Spitfire Mk IXs, and one bomber attempting a raid on Portsmouth was intercepted on 12 September 1942, no further flights over England were attempted.

In August 1942, a modified Supermarine Spitfire Mark V shot one down over Egypt at an altitude of some 14,500 m (49,000 ft); when two more were lost, Ju 86Ps were withdrawn from service in 1943.

Prototypes

Junkers Ju 86A

The Junkers Ju 86A was the initial bomber version. It was replaced in production by the improved Ju 86D.

Junkers Ju 86A-1 33+D24 4th staffel of KG253 — Junkers Ju 86A-1

Junkers Ju 86B

Junkers Ju 86B consisted of seven pre-production transport aircraft.

Junkers Ju 86C

Six Junkers Ju 86C transport aircraft were built for Deutsche Luft Hansa, powered by two Junkers Jumo 205C diesel engines. These were taken over by the Luftwaffe during the war.

Junkers Ju 86C-1 being used by a Luftwaffe transport unit — Junkers Ju 86C-1 line drawing

Junkers Ju 86D

The Junkers Ju 86D replaced the A model in production, incorporating a modified tail cone to improve stability.

Junkers Ju 86E

The Ju 86E replaced the D in production by switching to the BMW 132 engine, production continued until 1938.

Junkers Ju 86G

The Junkers Ju 86G was a development of the Ju 86E fitted with a round glass nose.

Junkers Ju 86P

The Ju 86P-1 was a high-altitude bomber version, fitted with two Jumo 207 diesel engines and with turbochargers. The P-2 was fitted for high-altitude photo reconnaissance, but was still equipped for bombing.

Junkers Ju 86P-2 — Junkers Ju 86P-1 line drawing

Junkers Ju 86R

The Junkers Ju 86R was a high-altitude bomber/photo reconnaissance development of the P version. Initially it retained the Jumo 207 engines, but these were later replace by the Jumo 208. Only prototypes of this variant were built.

Junkers Ju 86Z

The Junkers Ju 86Z was the designation for civil export models. Several were impressed into Luftwaffe service.

Consolidated B-24 Liberator Nose Art Page 2

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Consolidated B-24 Liberator Nose Art Page 2

Old Hickory

Old Hickory was a 380th Bomb Group 530th Bomb Squadron s/n 42-40827. It was written off on 1 March 1944 after a crash landing at Fenton, Australia.

Our Gal III

Our Gal III a Consolidated B-24J-90-CO s/n 42-100313 of the 5th AF, 22nd BG, 33rd BS

Peace Offering

Consolidated B-24M-10-FO, s/n 44-50811, Peace Offering of the 529th BS 380th BG, Okinawa, 1945.

Pistol Packin’ Mama

Pleasure Bent

Consolidated B-24J-75-CO Liberator s/n 42-100157 Pleasure Bent. Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG) “Red Raiders”, 2nd Bombardment Squadron (2nd BS). On April 18, 1945 during on a bombing mission against Toyohara, this aircraft was hit by flak. After a forced landing with two engines out, she was condemned and later scrapped.

Pug

Queen Mae

Queen Mae was a Consolidated B-24J 155-CO s/n 44-40314 319th Bomb Squadron, 90th Bomb Group. The aircraft survived the war and was scrapped in the Philippines

Rangy Lil

Consolidated B-24M-5-CO Liberator Rangy Lil s/n 44-41867 of the 529BS, 380BG, 5th AF

Road to Tokyo

Road to Tokyo a Consolidated B-24J s/n 44-40400 of the 90BG, 319BS, 5th Air Force

Sandra Kay

Consolidated B-24D-155-CO Sandra Kay s/n 42-72790 of the 380 BG 530 BS. Delivered to the USAAF on 31 July 1943. Flew 89 missions from Australia and New Guinea with another 34 from the Philippines for a total of 123. Written off on 19 May 1945 after a crash landing at Mindoro in the Philippines.

She ‘Asta

Consolidated B-24D-65-CO of the 380BG 530BS. Transferred to the RAAF as A72-5 on 3 March 1944. She’ Asta flew 28 missions before her transfer.

Shootin’ Star

Consolidated B-24J-25-CO Shootin’ Star s/n 42-73249 of the 308 BG 374 BS 14th Air Force. Shootin’ Star was lost on 12 January 1945 to friendly fire when shot down by three Vought Corsairs.

Six Bitts

Consolidated B-24J-80-CO Liberator s/n 42-100214 Six Bitts of the 380BG / 529BS. She flew 100 missions, 56 from Australia with another 44 from The Philippines.

Sleepy Time Gal

Snow Job II

Consolidated B-24J Liberator Snow Job II s/n 44-40572 of the 5BG 31BS. The plane was lost on January 10, 1945 while returning from a bombing mission in the Philippines.

Squeeze

Consolidated B-24M Liberator Squeeze s/n 44-42020 of the 308BG, 374BS. The camel mission tally indicates a mission over the “Hump” or Himalayas supplying the Chinese.