44-10558 Ma's Lil Angel
466th BG - 785th BS
466th BG Archives
Object Number - UPL 6471 - B-24J-65-CF #44-10558 Ma's Little Angel 466th BG - 785th BS
B-24 44-10558 was given to a crew of the 491st Bomb Group. Assuming it would become their regular aircraft, the right waist gunner, David Redfern painted the aircraft (with the support of the crew) with the nose art of 'Ma's 'Lil' Angel'.
Upon arrival in Northern Ireland the aircraft was re-assigned to the 466th Bomb Group, and the 491st crew given another Liberator.
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- 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: 446th Bomb Group 785th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Assistant Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 785th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-719577
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot/Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35899497
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 491st Bomb Group 852nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2015357
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Combat Mission |
Stade, Germany | 6 October 1944 | Earl Wassom Crew - Crew #554 German Airfield Flying Time: 6:05 hours |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Hamm, Germany | 22 October 1944 | Ear Wassom Crew - Crew #554 Rail Yard Flying Time: 6:00 hours |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Bottrop, Germany | 26 October 1944 | Earl Wassom Crew - Crew #554 Rail Yard Flying Time: 6:30 hours |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Castrop-Rauxel, Germany | 1 November 1944 | Earl Wassom Crew - Crew #554 Oil Refinery & Stroage Flying Time: 5:35 hours |
|
Other Combat Mission |
Karlsruhe, Germany | 5 November 1944 | Earl Wassom - Crew #554 Rail Yard Flying Time: 5:15 Damaged by flak, knocking out #2 engine. Prop wouldn't feather. A second flak burst punctured the main fuel cells. |
|
Other Emergency Landing |
52100 Saint-Dizier, France | 5 November 1944 | Made an emergency landing in France with #2 engine shot out, punctured fuel tanks in the bomb bay, and the left landing gear damaged and the left main tire shredded. Ma's Lil' Angel eventually was repaired and returned to the 466th BG, however the Wassom Crew never flew her again. |
|
Other Damaged in Taxi Accident |
Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK | 28 January 1945 | Damaged beyond repair in a taxi accident on this date. Left landing gear snapped of cause the wing to hit the runway and break the main spar. A/C was written off for salvage. The hulk being used for ditching practice. |
|
Assigned |
Hamilton Field, San Francisco | 44-10558 was given to Eugene Scamhorn's crew of the 491st Bomb Group, who painted it with the nose art Ma's 'Lil' Angel | |
|
Other Ferry stop |
Nebraska | Stopped there during deployment to UK | |
|
Other Ferry stop |
Ohio | Stopped there during deployment to UK | |
|
Other Ferry stop |
Grenier Field, New Hampshire | Stopped there during deployment to UK | |
|
Other Ferry Stop |
Goose Bay, Labrador | Stopped there during deployment to UK | |
|
Other Ferry Stop |
Iceland | Stopped there during deployment to UK | |
|
Assigned |
Belfast | Re-assigned to 466th Bomb Group |
Revisions
B-24 Identification Tool ( Marchese)
B- 24 Liberator PMD, Marchese
