41-31819 Mild and Bitter

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 Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![Personnel of the 322nd Bomb Group with a B-26 Marauder (serial number 41-17934) nicknamed "Pappy's Pram". Image stamped on reverse: 'Reveiwed and passed [illegible] 1943.' [stamp] Handwritten caption on reverse: 'PN-Q 322.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/max_650x650/public/freeman/media-379976.jpg?itok=4QPNStk1)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth 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

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 322nd Bomb Group 452nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret

- 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
- Role/Job: Tail gunner
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Great Saling
Aircraft

- 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
Charles Parker, step-son of Lee Willison Rice
AAM Photo