FRE 8883

IMAGE

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A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7627) nicknamed "BTO" of the 445th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WV:4, "BTO", 445 BG.' This aircraft diverted to Sweden after a mission to Tutow, Germany on Easter Sunday, April 9th, 1944. One engine was shot out by German fighters which started an oil fire. After pulling the extinguisher, the pilot had to put the plane into a dive to blow the fire out. Separated from the main formation and badly damaged ( #1 feathered and #4 throwing oil), the crew decided to head for Sweden which was only 100 miles away. As they got over the Baltic Sea, the bombsight and excess gear (weapons & ammunition) were thrown over the side. A Swedish fighter came up and signaled them to land. Unable to lower the landing gear, they crash-landed on a small island just offshore from Sweden. For the crew of 'BTO' their war was over.

Connections

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Units

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

Aircraft

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7627) nicknamed "BTO" of the 445th Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'WV:4, "BTO", 445 BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: B.T.O. (Big Time Operator)
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron

Revisions

Date:
ContributorB24Mike
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

For God and Country - In That Order by Samuel Mastrogiacomo. Sam was the tail gunner of BTO on that mission.

Date:
ContributorB24Mike
ChangesChanges to caption
Sources

NARA Records of the 445th Unit Historian

Date:
ContributorAAM
ChangesAAM ingest
Sources

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection