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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG 19th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1388. Disassembled and shipped across the Pacific to Australia. Wartime History Assigned to the 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), 19th Bombardment Squadron (19th BS). Nicknamed "Lil' Rebel". Assigned to pilot 2nd Lt. Paul E. Ray and crew chief Witek. Flown overseas by pilot 2nd Lt. Paul E. Ray across the Pacific to Australia on March 24, 1942 arrives Archerfield Airfield. On April 6, 1942 first combat mission over New Guinea. On April 30, 1942 took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby at 5:00am piloted by 2nd Lt. Paul E. Ray armed with 100 pound bombs along with B-26 "Dixie" 40-1496 and B-26 "Diana's Demon" 40-1495 on a bombing mission against Lae Airfield. Arriving at dawn at 600' altitude, the bombers released their bombs over parked aircraft. On the ground one bomber and four Zeros sustained shrapnel damaged, one Zeros destroyed and one Zero heavily damaged. Leaving the target, the formation was intercepted by seven A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai but none of the B-26s were damaged and returned safely. During early 1943, the exterior paint was removed to natural aluminum finish with "Silver Fleet" marking on the tail and was nicknamed "Pistol Packin Mama" and assigned to pilot Stanwood with crew chief Warner. In toal, it flew least 82 combat missions. Scrapped in Brisbane during January 1944. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 40-1388 "1388 (22nd BG, "Pistol Packing Mamma") scrapped at Brisbane after 82 missions Jan 1944" Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 82, 127, 177, 301 (profile), 495, 517, 522, 524 (photos) 526, 540-542, 614 (index) Contribute
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