41-31819 Mild and Bitter

Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Mild and Bitter". Handwritten caption on reverse: '322BG.' media-413193.jpg FRE 4477 Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Mild and Bitter". Handwritten caption on reverse: '322BG.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4477 - Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Mild and Bitter". Handwritten caption on reverse: '322BG.'

Assigned to 452BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF. First B-26 in the European Theater of Operations to complete 100 operational missions. This was accomplished on an afternoon raid on a Nazi airfield at Evreux/Fauville, southwest of Rouen, France, 9-May-44. She had flown her first mission on 23 July 1943. She did all this on her original engines, amassing a total of 449 hours and 30 minutes on them, 310 hours and 40 minutes of that in combat! During this time she never aborted due to mechanical failure, and not one of her many crewmen was a casualty. She was taken off operations after her 100th mission and flown back to the States to conduct a War Bond tour.

Connections

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Units served with

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19055460
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Bombardier/Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Aircraft

Airmen of the 322nd Bomb Group admire the nose art of a B-26 Marauder nicknamed "Mild and Bitter". Handwritten caption on reverse: '322BG.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-26 Marauder
  • Nicknames: Mild and Bitter
  • Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 450th Bomb Squadron 452nd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

100th combat missions

Évreux, France 9 May 1944 Completed 100 missions in ETO. Evreux being the final mission.

Manufactured

Offutt AFB, NE, USA Built at Martin.

Delivered

Nebraska, USA Delivered to USAAF.

Assigned

Andrewsfield Aviation Ltd, Saling Airfield Stebbing Great Dunmow Essex CM6 3TH, United Kingdom Assigned to 452BS, 322BG, 9AF USAAF.

Other

Returned to ZI.

United States Flown back Stateside to carry out a war bond tour.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributorlexilad
Changes
Sources

Charles Parker, step-son of Lee Willison Rice

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
ContributorTanks
Changes
Sources

AAM Photo

41-31819: Gallery (21 items)