42-50328 | American Air Museum

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Nicknames: Pregnant Peg
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Production block number: H
Markings & paint scheme: "Pregnant Peg" operated out of Shipdham and had a tragic story. A B-24H, 42-50328. It returned to base with one engine out and hydraulic failure after being attacked by fighters on a mission to Politz on May 29th 1944. The pilot, Conrad Menzel, managed to put down on the airfield and the badly damaged aircraft was then repaired using a telegraph pole and flown the short distance to Watton for repair. Menzel went on to complete 30 missions the last on 1st August 1944 and returned home. The "Pregnant Peg", one of 3 Liberators of the same name, was re-named "The Flying Log", although no name was ever painted on her, 328 re-entered service with 406 BS 44BG at Shipdham. On 8th August 1944 during take-off it suffered an engine failure. Aborting the mission the pilot, Lt Myron Jacobs, on his sixth mission, attempted to get back to the airfield but as a result of turning into the dead engine it spun in and crashed alongside the road at Birds Corner, Yaxham near Dereham at 1155 hours and exploded. The load comprised 46 x 100lb fragmentation bombs half of which exploded in the crash and others in the ensuing fire. All 10 of the crew were killed. Pilot Myron G. Jacobs; Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Howard K. Harmon; Navigator 2nd Lt Frederick F. McDaris; Bombardier 2nd Lt Kenneth P. Ward; Engineer S/Sgt Emil L. Grogg; Radio Operator S/Sgt Jack V. Whalen; Right Waist Gunner Sgt Robert J. Bell; Left Waist Gunner Karl D. Breakey; Top Turret Gunner/Armorer Sgt Shirley A. Jones and Tail Gunner Sgt Rolon D. Borgstrom.

42-50328 Pregnant Peg

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People

Kenneth Paul Ward

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 17151881 at enlistment, then O-716788
Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
Role/Job: Bombardier

Jack Vernon Whalen

Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
Nationality: American
Unit: 44th Bomb Group 506th Bomb Squadron
Service Numbers: 16162293
Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
Role/Job: Radio Operator

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Missions

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Events

Event	Location	Date	Description

Revisions

Date20 Nov 2020 09:59:49

ContributorED-BB

Changes

Sources

44th BG missions

Date27 May 2019 16:59:34

ContributorCatherineFields

Changes

Sources

http://www.airfieldresearchgroup.org.uk/community/116622=10811-392nd%20… June 2008 392nd BGMA Newsletter
http://www.b24.net/stories/COPP.htm Lt Copp on the Berlin Raid and interesting background stuff.

http://www.b24.net/missions/MM042944.htm Berlin Raid April 29th 1944. Six out the eighteen Liberators on this mission were lost. Lt Copps official report is towards the end.

‘The 3rd S.A.D. & 25th Bomber Group in Norfolk’ by Peter Bodle & Ken Godfrey. Published by Liberator Publishing www.liberatorpublishing.co.uk ISBN 0-9551916-4-5.