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  B-24D-20-CO "Rio Rita" Serial Number A72-10  
USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
403rd BS

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43rd BG c1943

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-20-CO Liberator serial number 41-24127. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field and across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 403rd Bombardment Squadron (403rd BS). Nicknamed "Rio Rita" with the nose art of a seated nude woman.

During June 1943, took off on a night bombing mission against Rabaul with other B-24s and B-17s. The crew were pilot Captain Goudy, co-pilot, 1st Lt. Alton G. Boyd, bombardier 1st Lt Walter E. Buchanan, navigator 1st Lt. McMahon, engineer SSgt Harld B. Peterson, radio operator Sgt Cowan, tail gunner SSgt B. O. Yawn, gunner Cpl D. R. McNight, assistant radio-gunner B. E. Adam. Also aboard was Sydney Sun newspaper reporter Allan Dawes who afterwards wrote afterwards wrote the article "Nightmare Trip In Blazing Bomber" about the mission.

On May 22, 1944 transfered to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as Liberator A72-10. Assigned to 7 Operational Training Unit (7 OTU).

Postwar
During December 1952, this bomber was stricken from charge and scrapped sometime afterwards.

References
Sydney Sun "Nightmare Trip In Blazing Bomber" June 23, 1943
ADF Serials - Liberator A72-10
Thanks to Walter "Buck" Buchanan, Jr. for additional information

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Last Updated
November 9, 2019

 

Tech Information
Liberator
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