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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 386th BS |
Aircraft History Built by Consolidated-Vultee at Fort Worth, Texas during January 1945. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-32-20-CF Dominator serial number 42-108529. Also known as #529 for the last three digits of the serial number. On May 12, 1945 took off from Fort Worth Army Air Field on a flight with B-32 42-108532 bound for Mather Army Air Field. On May 16, 1945 departed Mather Army Air Field with #532 on a flight to Hickam Field but the bombers became lost flying 260 miles off course before landing safely. At Hickam Field this B-32 had an engine changed and minor repairs made. On May 23, 1945 departed with #532 for Guam then the next day day departed for Clark Field arriving May 24, 1945. Wartime History One of nine B-32 Dominators assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 386th Bombardment Squadron (386th BS) for combat tests. Nicknamed "The Lady is Fresh" with the nose art of a blonde woman wearing a bikini seated below the left side of the cockpit. Later, by July 1945 this nose art was repainted with a larger figure below the top turret. On May 29, 1945 at 10:30am took off from Clark Field piloted by Col. Franklin K. Paul armed with nine 1,000 pound bombs leading the formation of three B-32s on the first combat mission of for the new bomber. Before take off, B-32 42-108528 aborted the mission leaving only B-32 "Hobo Queen II" 42-108532. At noon the pair bombed from 10,000' making separate bomb runs against enemy troop concentrations at Antatet claiming damage to buildings ahead of Filipino guerrillas. Both returned safely at 1:05pm. This was both bombers first combat mission. On May 29, 1945 at 10:30am took off from Clark Field piloted by Col. Franklin K. Paul armed with nine 1,000 lbs bombs on the first combat mission for the new bomber leading B-32 "Hobo Queen II" 42-108532 piloted by Col. Cook. Before take off, B-32 42-108528 aborted the mission. At noon the pair bombed from 10,000' making separate bomb runs against enemy troop concentrations at Antatet claiming damage to buildings ahead of Filipino guerrillas. Both returned safely at 1:05pm. This was the first combat mission flown by the B-32 Dominator in World War II. On May 31, 1945 transfered from Clark Field to nearby Floridablanca Airfield. On August 13, 1945 when flown northward operate from Yontan Airfield on Okinawa. On June 11, 1945 this B-32 flew a practice bombing mission. A bomb fragment caused a hole in the left stabilizer that was not noticed until the next day after the mission. On June 12, 1945 took off from Floridablanca Airfield on a bombing mission with B-32 "Hobo Queen II" 42-108532 against Basco Airfield on Batan Island. Over the target, each bomber made two passes bombing the runway from 15,500' and 16,000' and returned safely. On June 22, 1945 took off from Floridablanca Airfield on a bombing mission with B-32 42-108528 against Heito Butanol Plant and nearby anti-aircraft guns. Over the target, this bomber made a bomb run from 16,000' dropping 260 pound bombs that hit the plant but missed the guns by 200'. On August 28, 1945 took off from Yontan Airfield leading a photographic mission over Tokyo with B-32 42-108528. Weather was scattered cumulus nimbus .1 high and cirrus clouds .1 with an undercast at 1,200'. Over the target, only forty photos were taken, none over the assigned targets due to cloud cover. Returning, crashed was B-32 42-108528 (11 rescued, 2 MIA). Postwar After the Pacific War ferried overseas back to the United States arriving October 16, 1945. Afterwards, stored outdoors at Kingman Field. Scrapped during late 1945 or 1946. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-32-20-CF Dominator 42-108529 "108529 chosen for combat test. Arrived on Luzon May 24, 1945. To Kingman, AZ for storage and scrapped" Dominator (1984) pages 24-25 (color artwork), 42, 43, 46 (photos) Echoes of the Dominator (2007) pages 64-65, 128, 147 Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 201 (color photo), 307 (photo) 306, 309, 315-316 (June 22, 1945), 356 (42-108529), 411 (index Paul) Contribute
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