42-7563 Hells Warrior

media-22924.jpeg UPL 22924 Ford built B-24H-1-FO Consolidated Liberator 42-7563 "Hell's Warrior" 701st BS, 445th BG, 8th AF.

Object Number - UPL 22924 - Ford built B-24H-1-FO Consolidated Liberator 42-7563 "Hell's Warrior" 701st BS, 445th BG, 8th AF.

Assigned to 701BS, 445BG, 8th AF. Transfered to the 859BS, 492BG and modified for use in Carpetbagger missions. After August 1944 the 492nd Bomb Group was used as a cover for special operations missions in Europe, such as supply drops to Underground forces, agent insertions and propaganda leaflet drops, usually done at night. Aircraft was loaned to the M.T.O. for use by the 15th Special Operations Group. Was lost on the 9-Feb-45 mission to Karlovac, daylight operation. Exploded in air, crashed near village Velike Brisnice, 8 km North of Jablanac. 8 KIA MACR 12361.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24D Liberator 'Carpetbagger' - extensively modified for specialised operations - taxiis on the perimeter track at Harrington airfield. Printed caption on reverse: 'A Carpetbagger B-24D taxiing on the perimeter at Harrington. Photo - "Red" Monaghan.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18137597 / O-703606
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Civilian
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33686693
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-718102
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34728758
  • Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 490th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14201481
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator, Gunner, Mechanic

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

9 February 1945 Lost on the 9-Feb-45 mission to Karlovak,Yugoslavia. 8 KIA MACR 12361.

Crashed

Velike Brisnice 9 February 1945 Lost on the 9-Feb-45 mission to Karlovak (very likely misspelled, because Karlovak never existed, correct target is Karlovac) ,Yugoslavia. 8 KIA MACR 12361.

Manufactured

Failed to Return (FTR)

Willow Run, Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48198, USA Built by Ford for Consolidated.

Assigned

Tibenham, Norwich NR16, UK Assigned to 701BS, 445BG, 8th AF.

Other

Transferred

North Pickenham, Swaffham PE37, UK 859BS, 492BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Detached Service (DS)

Loaned to 15th Special Operations Group.

Delivered

Michigan, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorMIdja
Changes
Sources

I have changed the crash event because it was completely wrong. It was pointing to a location in Serbia.
From its itinerary written in Missing Air Crew Report number 12361 (https://catalog.archives.gov/id/91125357); plane crashed near Jablanac in nowadays Croatia and the target were Karlovac (also nowadays Croatia), which is misspelled in MACR.

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 12361 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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