41-28697 Spotted Ass Ape : Dixie Belle II : Wonder Bread

A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.' media-395531.jpg FRE 6711 A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship 41-28697 'Spotted Ass Ape' . Written on slide casing: 'SOL, Azon a/c.' Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 6711 - A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship...

Spotted ApeSpotted Ass Ape, or Wonder Bread were but a few of the names for the 458th Bomb Group’s second assembly ship.  After "First Sergeant" was destroyed on May 27, 1944 in a flare accident on the runway, B-24H-10-DT 41-28697 Z5 P named Dixie Bell II was removed from combat operations after only eight missions with the 754th Squadron, and decorated in the same paint scheme as her predecessor.  All but one of the eight missions were flown by Lt Watson’s crew.  

Spotted Ape’s career as the group’s formator came to an end on March 9, 1945.  2Lt William B. Cheney, Jr., pilot, along with 2Lt Kenneth O. Gilbert as co-pilot were assigned to fly the ship that morning.  Landing upon their return to Horsham, the plane skidded off the runway and ended up on her belly.  The aircraft was written off as salvage.

Connections

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Units served with

Personnel of the 458th Bomb Group gather around a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29303) nicknamed "Liberty Lib" in order to transfer a casualty into a waiting ambulance. Image via Harry Holmes. Written on slide casing: '458th BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39901872
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17031412 / O-72528
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 754th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11069675 / O-688723
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 15324254
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top turret gunner

Places

Missions

  • Date: 28 February 1945

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

9 March 1945 Landing accident Horsham St Faith Sta 123, Cat 4 damage pilot Lt William B Chenney Jr, 9-3-45. 

Revisions

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41-28697: Gallery (7 items)