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| USAAF 5th AF 22nd BG HQ Squadron
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Aircraft History Built by Martin in Baltimore, Maryland. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-26 Marauder serial number 40-1499. Disassembled and shipped overseas across the Pacific Ocean to Australia to Melbourne. Reassembled by Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC). Wartime History On June 10, 1942 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 22nd Bombardment Group (22nd BG), Headquarters Squadron (HQ). Nicknamed "Wabash Cannonball" below was Japanese kanji. Squadron Number 20 was painted in yellow on the nose. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Leon G. Lewis with crew chiefs Schmigel and Thrower. Mission History On August 17, 1942 one of ten B-26 Marauders parked at 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby fully fueled and armed with 500 pound bombs. Suddenly, without advanced warning of a Japanese air raid against 7 Mile Drome commenced with bombs released by G4M1 Betty bombers from the 4th Kokutai (4th Air Group) and Misawa Kokutai (Misawa Air Group) escorted by A6M2 Zeros from the Tainan Kokutai (Tainan Air Group). While attempting to take off to avoid being hit on the ground, B-26 40-1493 and this B-26 piloted by 1st Lt. Leon G. Lewis managed to take off as the bombs began exploding. Before becoming airborne, hit by shrapnel that knocked out the hydraulic system. Flying at low altitude to avoid being intercepted, this B-26 force landed at 12 Mile Drome and came to rest at the end of the runway with the nose impacted into the tree line. Aboard, the crew were unhurt. Afterwards, this aircraft was written off. Ultimate fate unknown likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. Afterwards, B-26 "Wabash Canonball II" 40-1517 had the same nickname with roman numeral II. References Other sources show this bomber as scrapped at Brisbane during January 1944. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-26 Marauder 40-1499 Revenge of the Red Raiders (2006) pages 129-132 (August 17, 1942), 130 (photo), 172 (33rd BS song), 489 (HQ Squadron 40-1499), 517 (nickname), 623 (index Wabash Cannonball) Contribute
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