42-51091 Bangin' Lulu

media-17157.jpeg UPL 17157 "Bangin' Lulu" a/c 42-51091

Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.)

Object Number - UPL 17157 - "Bangin' Lulu" a/c 42-51091

Date Assigned to the 492nd BG. Replacement aircraft for the 858th BS.

Flew its first mission 27 May 44. Total Missions with the 492nd BG: 24. Total WWII Missions: unknown.

19 Jun 44: reassigned to the 857th BS when the 858th was cut from the Group. It was used to replace 44-40106 lost on 20 Jun 44.

6 Aug 44: heavily damaged it was crash landed at Metfield, home of the 491st BG. Initial reports claimed it was damaged beyond repair. Apparently it was fixed and put back into service. Transferred to the 446th BG, 704th BS.

Returned to USA during Jun 45.

 

Connections

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

Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31327949
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group

Places

Aerial photograph of Bungay (Flixton) airfield, looking south, the technical site- with T2 hangar- and control tower are to the right, where the main airfield gate is also situated, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/930. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Flixton

Missions

A B-24 Liberator of the 492nd Bomb Group bombs a target near Hamburg. 

Handwritten caption on reverse: 'USAF- 492nd BG showing successful result on oil target near Hamburg, 6 Aug 1944.'
  • Date: 6 August 1944
A mission log for Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst of the 91st Bomb Group, 3 August 1944 -15 December 1944. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group.
  • Date: 5 August 1944
B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 305th Bomb Group fly in formation.
  • Date: 4 August 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Punctuation marks removed from aircraft name for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo

Date
Contributor492 - 467 son
Changes
Sources

see http://492ndbombgroup.com/cgi-bin/pagepilot.cgi?page=showAircraft&aircr… for mission info; a/c started with 858th BS, then 857thBS. Completed 24 missions with 492nd BG.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Added connections to related records from existing information in the record and associated images.

Date
Contributorgwap53
Changes
Sources

Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.); Norfolk and Suffolk Air Museum website

42-51091: Gallery (4 items)