42-51233 Bigast Boid
media-395315.jpg
FRE 6480
Leon J Nowicki, and engineer of the 389th Bomb Group with the nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51233 nicknamed "The Bigast Boid". Image via LR Ades. Written on slide casing: 'Nov 1944 Leon J Nowicki.'
Roger Freeman Collection
Page 73, The Mighty Eighth in Color, Roger Freeman
B-24 Liberator "The Bigast Bird" (also know as "Bigast Boid"). It was a Douglas-Tulsa B-24J-1-DT Liberator (s/n 42-51233) from the 567th BS, 389th BG, 8th AF. On the April 14,1945 mission to bomb gun emplacements near Royan, France five Liberators from the 389th Bomb Group were hit by fragmentation bombs dropped by a higher flying B-17 group. This aircraft, and the other one in the photo, were lost. The Bush crew in "Bigast Bird" had 8 KIA/2 POW. MACR 13906.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33541272
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 42087611
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19106184
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 567th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Places
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
Royan, France | 14 April 1945 | On the April 14,1945 mission to bomb gun emplacements near Royan, France five Liberators from the 389th Bomb Group were hit by fragmentation bombs dropped by a higher flying B-17 group. This aircraft, and the other one in the photo, were lost. The Bush crew in "Bigast Bird" had 8 KIA/2 POW. MACR 13906. |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
MACR 13906 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database