Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego. Delivered to the U. S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-115-CO Liberator serial number 42-40920. Ferried overseas via Hickam Field then across the Pacific to Australia.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force, 90th Bombardment Group, 400th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Pete the Carrier" with the nose art of a pelican with a baby in its mouth dropping an aerial bomb. When lost, engines: R-1830-43 serial numbers: 42-87681, 42-82857, 42-62675 and 42-62428.

Mission History
On August 29, 1943 took off from 5-Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby at 7:36am piloted by 1st Lt. Alexander F. North on a bombing mission against Boram Airfield near Wewak. Over the target, this bomber was attacked by several enemy fighters causing one engine to burst into flames. Six or seven were observed to bail out. Another reference speculates it crashed near the Sepik River.

Memorials
Two of the crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission: North and Hooper. The other eight officially declared dead on January 12, 1946: Jacoby, Owen, Kenny, Jaynes, Lewis, Maggio, Norris and Yalch. The entire crew is memorialized at the tablets of the missing at Manila American Cemetery.

References
Missing Air Crew Report 13578 (MACR 13578)
RAAF Casualty Card for B-24 Liberator 42-40920
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-40920

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Last Updated
April 24, 2018