42-7491 Pregnant Peg
Object Number - UPL 50249 - B-24 42-7491 'Pregnant Peg', 577BS, 392BG
Assigned to 577BS, 392BG, 8AF USAAF. Emergency Landing 14-Dec-43 Near Watton, Norfolk. Repaired at Watton. Re-assigned to 578BS, 392BG, 8AF USAAF.
"It Couldn't Be Done" -- So they said but Major Allen Russell, operations chief of the Ferry and Transport Service with U.S.A.A.S.C., confounded experts when he flew the crash-landed Liberator PREGNANT PEG out of a ploughed field sticky with mud. His crew chief, T/Sgt Cecil F. Grove of Waverly, MO., sat beside him as he took the plane off a dangerously-short improvised runway.
Last seen on take-off and most likely crashed into the North Sea on a mission to Oranienburg, Germany on 3-Mar-44. MACR 2800
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A pathfinder B-24 Liberator of the 577th Bomb Squadron, 392nd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Note radar gear under nose/cockpit area!' Handwritten and printed caption on reverse: '392BG 577SQ.' On reverse: John E. Bode Aug 05 1964 [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-414153.jpg.webp?itok=qGPtoDSE)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35402908
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36517558
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18162692
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33010417 / O-690569
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 392nd Bomb Group 578th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12075212 / O-682218
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed Failed to Return (FTR) |
North Sea | 3 March 1944 | Last seen on take-off and most likely crashed into the North Sea on a mission to Oranienburg, Germany on 3-Mar-44. MACR 2800 |
