Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated as a B-24D Liberator and assigned USAAF Serial Number 41-24051. Trasfered to the US Navy and assigned to VP-51 (VB-101). This bomber was not stricken from charge (SOC) until April 31, 1943.

Mission History
It is unclear which crew flew this Liberator, as two crews were lost on the mission. See Note on February 14, 1943 crew lists.

Armed with a single 1,000 lbs bomb, this PB4Y was one of nine that took off from Henderson Field on a daylight mission to bomb Japanese shipping off southern Bougainville. Escorted by 10 P-38s of the 347th FG, 339th FS and 12 F4U of VMF-124. The PB4Ys hit the Hatachi Maru and damaging another ship.

Intercepted by up to 45 enemy fighters and floatplanes.

One of the bombers lost was shot down by head-on attack, the other crash landed off New Georgia.

References
Guadalcanal and the Origins of the 13th Air Force, pg 182
We Flew Alone, page 13-14
Thanks to Jim Sawruk for crew list

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Last Updated
October 1, 2009

MIA