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  A-20A "Little Hellion / The Steak & Eggs" Serial Number 40-166  
USAAF
5th AF
3rd BG
89th BS

Click For Enlargement
November 1, 1942

Aircraft History
Assigned to the 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd Attack), 89th Bombardment Squadron.

Damaged by anti-aircraft fire, made a wheels up, flaps up force landing at 7-Mile Drome on November 1, 1942 piloted by Ford. Written off, it was converted into components.

Parts of this aircraft were salvaged, and mated with parts of A-20A 39-724 which also suffered a landing accident. Repaired, it flew again and was renamed "The Steak and Eggs" or sometimes listed as "The Steak and Eggs Special".

Stripped to bare metal finish. Used as a 'fat cat' on supply runs from New Guinea to Australia for fresh food, vegetables, eggs and liquor. As the other two aircraft were written off, "The Steak & Eggs" did not officially exist, and hence little of her demise can be found in Unit records.

Mission History
Caught in bad weather on June 11, 1944 and ran low on fuel. Pilot Lt. Rude Vucelic crash landed the A-20 on a beach on the north west side of Low Wooded Island, near Cooktown. Lt Kennedy who was in the nose injured his shoulder in the forced landing, and four others escaped reasonably well, including the aircraft Crew Chief.

Wreckage
After the crash, a salvage party did visit the aircraft, but a complete salvage was deemed too difficult.

Today, the wreckage still remains on the beach including the two engines and wing section of the wreckage.

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Last Updated
December 15, 2008

 

Tech Information
B-24

 

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Pacific Wrecks Incorporated is a non-profit charity 501(c)(3)  Donate Now