"Baby Shoes" - B-24J 40-50555 Baby Shoes was flown to England by the North Atlantic route from Grenier Field, Manchester, New Hampshire, under an ATC Operations Order dated 29 May 44, by a crew that was assigned after arrival in England to 453rd BG. After 8th AF modifications, the aircraft was assigned as a replacement ship to 492nd BG at North Pickenham, with which it flew 8 missions from 21 Jun 44. When the 492nd BG was taken off daylight bombing operations in mid-Aug 44, BABY SHOES went as a replacement ship to the 458th BG at Horsham St Faith, 755th BS as J3 G and transferred in Oct 44 to 753rd BS as J4 A. On 14 Mar 45, at Horsham St Faith, a waist gunner preparing for a mission on board BABY SHOES failed to check closely for ammunition in his gun before pulling the trigger. Several rounds went off, which ricocheted into the bomb bay and left wing tank of another B-24, igniting an incendiary bomb and gas tanks, setting that plane afire, exploding the bomb load and causing that plane's complete destruction. The explosion caused major damage to BABY SHOES and five other B-24s, as well as minor damage to three others. BABY SHOES was repaired and, after the end of the war in Europe, was re-deployed to the Zone of Interior (RZI). Learn more about this aircraft at the 458th BG website (www.459bg.com) and their association - AUTHORED BY: TOM BRITTAN, WWW.B24BESTWEB.COM Photos courtesy www.b24bestweb.com