44-40101 Tubarao

A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: 'Tubarao, 491 BG Mount Farm.' media-395682.jpg FRE 6860 A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: 'Tubarao, 491 BG Mount Farm.' Roger Freeman Collection

Page 107, The Mighty Eighth in Color, Roger Freeman

Object Number - FRE 6860 - A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. Image...

B-24 44-40101(Nickname Tubarao) was a B-24 Liberator that was declared 'War Weary' despite only having served twenty missions in six months due to wear and tear. After being declared War Weary the plane was made the Groups Assembly ship after the previous one crashed after taking off in a snowstorm.

Connections

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Units served with

A Pathfinder B-24 Liberator (V2-P+, serial number 42-51691) of the 491st Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: '491 BG supplying troops at Arnhem, Sept 1944.'

491st Bomb Group

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

People

Frank Anthony Bakaitis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 855th Bomb Squadron 491st Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 31143599
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Harold W Burdekin

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 854th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Pilot / Flight Instructor
David Mautner

David Banker Mautner

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 852nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39154416 / O-?
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot
Robert Wenskovitch

Robert Clemence Wenskovitch

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 491st Bomb Group 852nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13190253
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjrugman
Changes
Sources

Page 107, The Mighty Eighth in Color, Roger Freeman

44-40101: Gallery (5 items)

A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: 'Tubarao, 491 BG Mount Farm.'

Object number: FRE 6860 - A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44...

44-40101 'Tubarao'

Object number: UPL 64582 - B-24 44-40101 'Tubarao'

44-40101 'Tubarao'

Object number: UPL 64587 - B-24 44-40101 'Tubarao'

44-40101 'Tubarao'

Object number: UPL 64592 - B-24 44-40101 'Tubarao'

"Movement of Unit Flight Echelon, 491st Bomb Gp (H), dd 14 Mar 44 & amendments thereto dd 18 Unr 44 & 22 Mar 44 & 2nd AF Memo 35-2, dd 11 Apr 44• This is a TEMPORARY change of station.

Object number: UPL 80706 - SPECIAL ORDERS NUMBER 112... 215TH COMBAT CREW...