44-6293 Sunkist Sue, Peggy

media-52142.jpeg UPL 52142 B-17G-50-DL 44-6293, wearing its nose art and its name "Sunkist Sue", assigned to the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

Object Number - UPL 52142 - B-17G-50-DL 44-6293, wearing its nose art and its name "Sunkist Sue", assigned to the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group.

Delivered Kearney 26/6/44; Dow Fd 9/7/44; Assigned 401BS/91BG [LL-A] Bassingbourn 22/7/44 PEGGY 20+m; Returned to the USA Bradley 12/6/45; Sth Plains 14/6/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Kingman 5/12/45. 2m SUNKIST SUE.



Sometime in October, the aircraft had the ball turret removed due to what the pilot thought was a "fundamental airframe fault". Sunkist Sue's first mission with the modification would be the 2 November Merseburg raid, where the crew would claim anywhere from two to five aircraft destroyed. Later on the aircraft would suffer minor battle damage Sterkrade on 22 January. Finally, on the 29 January mission to Niederlahnstein, the Fortress suffered an engine loss over the railyards, resulting in a forced landing that all the crew walked away from. Sunkist Sue would later be sent back to Bassingbourn, but would not fly another mission after that.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39167239
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew chief

Places

Missions

  • Date: 29 January 1945
  • Date: 28 January 1945
The smoking crash site of a B-24 Liberator of the 467th Bomb Group near Old Catton. Official caption printed on image: (33)(PLAC. MIS. ASSY)(22-1-45)(AC 393).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '22/1/45 467 BG B-24 crashed at Old Catton, killing all aboard.'
  • Date: 22 January 1945
  • Date: 21 January 1945
  • Date: 17 January 1945

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Bassingbourn, England 22 July 1944 Assigned to 401BS/91BG

Other

Forced Landing

29 January 1945 Lost engine over Niederlahnstein rail yards and forced to land. Crew walked away fine.

Revisions

Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added connections to the 401st BS, 91st BG and 8th AF mentioned in A/C description.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the A/C nickname listed in the A/C “Description”.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

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