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  B-24D-145-CO Liberator Serial Number 42-41217  
USAAF
5th AF
43rd BG
65th BS

Pilot  Lt. Albert A. Turner (survived)
Co-Pilot
 Lt. Warren Lanz (survived)
Bombardier  Lt. Ludlow Miller (survived)
Navigator  Travis Gibertson (survived)
Engineer  John Bartell (survived)
Radio Fred A. Taylor, Jr. (survived)
Asst. Radio Paul L. Meyers (survived)
Nose Gunner Lee W. McGown (survived)
Ditched  October 28, 1943
MACR  none

Aircraft History
Built by Consolidated at San Diego a cost of $297,627. Constructors Number 2294. On July 17, 1943 delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-145-CO Liberator serial number 42-41217. Ferried via Hickam Field overseas to Australia arriving September 28, 1943.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG), 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS). No known nose art or nickname.

Mission History
On October 28, 1943 took off from 5 Mile Drome (Wards) near Port Moresby piloted by Lt. Albert A. Turner on reconnaissance mission over the Solomon Sea, coast of New Britain before bombing Gasmata. Returning, this B-24 ran into bad weather over the Owen Stanley Mountains and instead diverted towards Milne Bay.  The same bad weather made a landing impossible, so this bomber turned westward for Port Moresby, but ran out of fuel and ditched into Mullins Harbor on the south coast of New Guinea.

Rescue
All the crew survived and deployed the life rafts and were assisted ashore by native people. The next day, a U.S. Navy PBY Catalina arrived and rescued the entire crew.

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-24D-145-CO Liberator 42-41217
PNG Museum Aircraft Status Card - B-24D Liberator 42-41217

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Last Updated
October 21, 2022

 

Tech Information
B-24
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