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AIRCRAFT OF THE 453RD


[732nd Sqdn.] [733rd Sqdn.] [734th Sqdn.] [735th Sqdn.] [Unk. Sqdn. ]

732nd Bomb Squadron Aircraft

********  Squadron Fuselage Code: E3  Tail Code: (null)  ********
SERIAL NO. NAME DESIGN. LTR COMMENTS
  BAYOU TIGER    
  COOTER    Ball, then nose - Joe Deelye. Pilot was Lt. Odie Boyd.
41-28641 JABBERWOCKB-24H-5-DT  Captured intact by Germans 02/03/44 (two days before the 453rd went operational) as a result of apparent hijack or defection. Later found at a Bavarian Airfield with Luftwaffe markings.
41-28650 ROOSTERB-24H-5-DTA  
41-28654 CONSOLIDATED MESS / SPARE PARTSB-24H-5-DT  An oft-published photo shows this ship in flight during the Big Week 02/21/44 mission.
41-29301 VAMPIN' VERAB-24H-10-CFZ  
42-50296 FORD'S FOLLYB-24H-20-CFA  
42-50333 PARTIAL PAYMENTB-24H-20-CFD  
42-50379 MAID OF FURY IIB-24H-25-CFM  
42-50471 LIL' NEMOB-24J-40-CFQ  
42-50494 SQUIRTB-24J-40-CFD  
42-50571 MY ACHIN' BACK / DIRTY GERTIEB-24J-1-FOS  
42-50764 LINDA LOUB-24J-5-FOW Previously in 735th, also as W. On 03/30/45 took flak damage and was forced to land at RAF Woodbridge.
42-50898 UNNAMEDB24JSH-5-FO  Crashed on takeoff on 27 Dec 1944. Lt. Roscoe C. Brown was pilot and there was a crew of 12. S/Sgts Marvin G. MacKey, Tommie F. Dickson and Earle M. Richmond survived. (per Virgil Hein)
42-51102 JUGHEADB-24H-20-DTP  
42-52201 BATTLE PACKAGEB-24H-25-DT   Crashed on July 11,1944.
42-52240   B-24H-10-FOT Interned in Sweden.
42-52299 HARD T GETB-24H-10-FOB  
42-52302 KEN O-KAYB-24H-10-FOH At some point xferred to 733rd. Took flak damage 02/25/44 and crashed at Nurnburg.
42-52472 LITTLE NANCYB-24H-15-FOK Went down Feb. '45. Neil Creer was the Crew Chief.
42-52755 PERCOLATIN' PETEB-24H-15-FOP  
42-64469 EL FLAKOB-24H-10-CF (Ford KD)I AKA RAINBOW GODDESS. (hardstand #30) Crashed Turnhout, Belgium 2/11/44 on 78th mission.
42-94990 KEN O-KAY IIIN/AC  
42-95076 LACEB-24H-25-FON  
42-95206 OHIO SILVERB-24H-25-FO   
42-95216 BLACK WIDOW / BECKYB-24H-25-FOC  
42-110047 HUMPSHOTB-24J-130-COX  
42-110100 THE SWEDE / MAYTAGB-24J-135-COI  
44-50527 HAZEEB-24M-5-FOT Xferred to 392nd BG after 04/10/45.
44-50529 FLAMIN' MAMIEB-24M-5-FOU Received in Mar. or April '45 and xferred 04/18/45 to become A in 491st BG/ 852nd BS. It flew 11 missions and aborted twice in the 453rd.



733rd Bomb Squadron Aircraft

********  Squadron Fuselage Code: F8  Tail Code: +  ********
SERIAL NO. NAME DESIGN. LTR COMMENTS
41-28610 CURLEYB-24H-1-DTX  
41-28613 MAID OF FURYB-24H-1-DT   
41-28627 JAKEB-24H-1-DTY Replaced by JO from the 389th BG in Dec. of 1944.
41-28629 BLONDES AWAYB-24H-1-DTP Interned in Switzerland.
41-28645 GOLDEN GABOONB-24H-5-DTU  
41-28949 DOG PATCH CLIPPERB-24H-20-DT  Made a forced landing 03/21/45 at Sint-Truiden Belgium due to problems with the throttle from No 4 engine (not a crash landing). Crew: Lt. C.D. Leavenworth p, D. Parke nav, Bob Mallick cp.
41-29210 HEAVENLY BODYB-24H-5-CF T  
41-29595 ARCHIBALDB-24H-15-CFS Was left in Gent, Belgium on 09/27/44 but was repaired and returned to the 453BG. It flew more missions with 733BS as P+ until it crashed on 01/21/45 in France after its crew bailed out.
42-51087 DUCHESS / HOT STUFFB-24H-20-DTR Renamed HOT STUFF as of 11/11/44.
42-51089 STAR EYESB-24H-20-DTV  
42-51112  B-24H-25-DTH Crash landed in Germany.
42-51114 WHISKEY JINGLESB-24H-25-DTJ  
42-51149 BLOOD 'N GUTSB-24H-25-DTU An H2X ship. Named following a bird strike.
42-51301 RUTH MARIEB-24J-5-DTT  
42-51361  B-24J-5-DTX  
42-51955 FLYING BULLB-24J-15-FOO  
42-52180 LI'L EIGHT BALLB-24H-10-FOF Shot down by German fighters on July 8,1944 over Brunswick.
42-52234 CORKYB-24H-10-FOW  
42-64457  B-24H-10-CFR Took flak damage over Berlin 3/6/1944. Forced to leave formation. Lost to fighters during return. Crew bailed out over North Sea 5 miles off Yarmouth. 4 rescued, 6 killed.
42-64460 SHACK RABBITB-24H-10-CFS Lost to fighters near Plantleunne 3/6/1944 during return.
42-94783 JOB-24H-15-FOY Xferred from the 389th BG in Dec. of 1944 to replace JAKE.
42-95099 RAG DOLLB-24H-25-FOQ  
42-95111 PORKYB-24H-25-FOK  
42-95276 MY BABSB-24H-25-FOL Is this the #276 whose nose wheel collapsed at March Field?
42-109896 GYPSY QUEENB-24J-115-CO  There were two GYPSY QUEENs; see also 42-50327
42-110085 FLAK HACKB-24J-130-COP  
42-110149 MARY HARRIETB-24J-140-COZ  
44-49972 RUM COLLINSB-24L-15-FOP Crashed at Lutjeswinkel Holland 31-MAR-45, 10 taken POW and 2 evaded (MACR 13734 and E & E 2985 refers). Pilot 1st Lt. Owens L. Hopper. (Per Sean Welch) .
44-50527 HAZEEB-24M-5-FO  Conflict: also listed with 732nd.



734th Bomb Squadron Aircraft

********  Squadron Fuselage Code: E8  Tail Code: -  ********
SERIAL NO. NAME DESIGN. LTR COMMENTS
41-28642 LIBBY RAIDERB-24H-5-DTL Olive Drab.
41-29005 DOLLY'S SISTERB-24H-20-DTI First mission 05/07/44. Lost an engine over Hamburg 11/21/44 and subsequently interned in Sweden. Returned to England 05/28/45.
41-29254 LITTLE MIKEB-24H-5-CFO Olive Drab. Landed with battle damage beyond repair 05/30/44. (Engineer) Paul Harper's plane Crew #46.
41-29257 NOTRE DAMEB-24H-5-CFL Olive Drab.
41-29259 OUR BABYB-24H-10-CFB Lost 07/21/44 in a collision with DIANA MITE over Germany.
42-50703 WORRY BIRDB-24J-1-FOJ Crashed after mid-air collision (in the landing pattern at Old Buck) with SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAME on 02/09/45. Eleven men killed.
42-51096 HUSTLIN' HUSSY   Crashed in the English Channel. All escaped to life rafts, but the nose gunner died before rescue.
42-51108 ARROWHEADB-24H-25-DTD Returned to ZI 05/31/45.
42-51301 RUTH MARIEB-24J-5-DTT  
42-51681  B-24J-10-FOD H2X Aircraft
42-52154 MALE CALLB-24H-10-FOG (#92311 on fuselage is project number) The only one of the original 61 A/C still with the Group at war's end. (per Wib Clingan: 25-SEP-44 repaired at Bovingdon, Hertfordshire for flak damage to nose & tail. 17-MAR-45 repaired at Thorpe Abbots for damage to #1 engine.) Xferred to 44th BG after 05-MAY-45. Eventually 95 missions, ret'd to ZI. Assigned to storage facility @ Altus, OK on 10/09/45
42-52169 LUCKY PENNY IB-24H-10-FOJ Flew 23 missions before being shot down at Goslar (near Stotterfinger) 08-MAY-44 during the Brunswick mission.
42-52174 HOO JIVEB-24H-10-FOK Interned in Switzerland.
42-52196 WAR BRIDEB-24H-10-FOA Crashed 09/09/44 in Langjefellhaddin, Norway. All 11 crew members killed. Was with 453rd until at least 6/20/44; then apparently transferred to RAF.
42-52226 BETTY BOOP
(per Hubert Cripe)		B-24H-10-FOE Lost to fighter over Holland 6-MAR-44 during return. Crew bailed out over Zuider Zee; plane crashed 4 km NE of Edam, Holland. 7 drowned; 3 evaded capture. (MACR 2970) Per Sean Welch.
42-52237 PAPER DOLLB-24H-10-FO  Originally C+ later D-. Eventually Q- after it was declared war weary. Last combat mission was 09/13/44. Salvaged at 3 BAD, Langford Lodge, N. Ireland.
42-95102 SPIRIT OF NOTRE DAMEB-24H-25-FOH NMF - The "Spirit of" an earlier ship NOTRE DAME. (see 41-29257 above). See notes on WORRY BIRD, #42-50703 above. SND was xferred to 448th BG after 04/11/45
42-95167 NEVER MRS.B-24H-25-FOA Hit by flak and went down just before IP 1/11/44.
42-95171 DIANA MITEB-24H-25-FOJ Lost 07/21/44 in a collision with OUR BABY over Germany.
42-95173 SKY CHIEFB-24H-25-FOQ  
42-95303 CROW'S NESTB-24H-30-FOD Pilot was Alex J. Crow. Xferred to 93rd BG after 04/10/45.
42-95312 LUCKY PENNY IIB-24H-30-FOC Flew 63 missions before going down with the Lofton crew near Cologne on 10/17/44.
42-110089   N Ditched in the English Channel 08/11/44 after their first mission. Three survivors.
44-10515 UNNAMEDB-24J-60-CFJ Crashed 2-6-1945 at Crown Farm, Deopham Green.
44-40072 B.T.O.B-24J-145-COA B.T.O. doubtless stands for Big Time Operator. It was assigned to the 453rd as replacement after loss of 42-95167 NEVER MRS. on 11/11/44 (also E8-A of hardstand #7). Flew missions from 12/11/44 - 04/11/45. Nose art info: 492nd artwork existed when picked up new in Nebraska 489th painted spats; at some point armor plate covered the original cane 489th or 453rd repaired with a cigar 466th artwork believed unchanged while in 466th.



735th Bomb Squadron Aircraft

********  Squadron Fuselage Code: H6  Tail Code: _  ********
SERIAL NO. NAME DESIGN. LTR COMMENTS
41-28631 QUEENIEB-24H-1-DTQ One of the Group's original 61 A/C; transferred to another Group.
41-28943 DUMBO, THE PISTOL PACKIN' PACHYDERMB-24H-20-DTL #535 in photo is Douglas Aircraft's constructor number. Battle letter changed from Q to L between July 8 & 11 '44. Xferred 04/01/45 to 732nd; battle letter unknown.
42-50327 GYPSY QUEENB-24H-20-CFX There were two GYPSY QUEENs; see also 42-109896 of the 733rd
42-50426 SLEEPY TIME GAL   Turret - Luther B. Cross
42-50510 SHAMROCKB-24J-1-FOI  
42-50715 BOISE BABEB-24J-1-FOS Crashed 02/23/45 at Carleton Rode - just east of Old Buck. See the map link under the "Station 144" heading.
42-51114 WHISKEY JINGLESB-24H-25-DTJ  
42-51865  B-24J-15-FOH  
42-52175 PORTLAND ANNIEB-24H-10-FOP Crashed at Den Oosterhuis NE of Balkbrug Holland, 9 crew taken POW (MACR 2928 refers) Pilot 1st Lt. Everett G. Ehrmann. Per Sean Welch.
42-52191 LILLIE BELLEB-24H-10-FON Ditched in North Sea 3/6/1944. One survivor: Lt. Gerald J. Cyr.
42-52244 BLACK JEDB-24H-10-FOZ (Interned in Sweden)
42-52627 STOLEN MOMENTSN/A  Shot down 7-21-44 near Ensisheim
42-64473 YUVADIT! / LOVER'S LANEB-24H-10-CF   
42-64478 CABIN IN THE SKYB-24H-10-CFX On 03/27/244 took direct flak hit and all 11 aboard killed, including Maj. Curtis Cofield, (previously rendered incorrectly as Garfield) the Group Operations Officer.
42-64496 BORSUK'S BITCHB-24H-10-CFX Interned in Switzerland.
42-94805 FOIL PROOFB-24H-20-FOU Xferred to 733rd at end of March '45.
42-95073 FLYING HOMEB-24H-25-FOY  
42-95086 SQUEE-GEE    
42-95166 CENTURY QUEENB-24H-25-FOM  
42-95214 WANDERING WANDAB-24H-25-FOZ Earl Hill's & Hank Barker's plane.
44-10575 BECOMING BACKB-24J-65-CFT Xferred 04/01/45 to 733rd; battle letter unknown. Xferred to 491st BG after 04/10/45.
44-40292 HATTIE BELLEB-24J-155-CON  
44-40297 SILENT YOKUMB-24J-155-COX Xferred 04/01/45 to 734th and to 392nd BG after 04/11/45. Superceded in 735th by 44-50685, also named SILENT YOKUM
44-50685 SILENT YOKUMB-24M-10-FOV Xferred to 389th BG after 04/10/45. Superceded 44-40297, also named SILENT YOKUM



Unknown Squadron Aircraft

SERIAL NO. NAME DESIGN. LTR COMMENTS
41-23738 WHAM BAMB-24D-1-CO  (Assembly ship) Transferred from 93RD-330BS original nose art shown inside back cover of _Target Germany_ Simon & Schuster. (same vintage as Ploesti veterans)
42-64452 RUMPELSTILSKIN IIB-24H-10-CF  One of the original 61; transferred to another Group.
#276     Nose gear collapsed at March Field, CA.
  SNARLING ED    
  STINKY    
  WHITEHEAD'S TOURISTS    
  ST. LOUIS WOMAN    



( A word about Group and Squadron Markings: On July 7, 1944 Second Bombardment
Air Division HQ issued Instructions #55-37 which specified Squadron Code Letters for
every Group in the Division. Moreover, it directed that the Codes be rendered in Gray 
on both sides of the fuselage, aft of the waist windows, in letters 48" tall with a 6" stroke.

In addition, the Squadron tail codes changed around the third week in May, 1944.  
What they were originally I'm not sure, except that 735th had been +, but after that 
time 732 was null; 733 was +; 734 was - and 735 was an underscore.  The Group 
tail marking had been the letter J in a four foot (gray or white?) circle. It was changed 
in late spring '44 to white diagonal stripes on black tails.  - Ken )


The end!  Please e-mail me with any information you'd like to add to the foregoing.  I'm
 always on the lookout for more plane names, numbers, Sqdn. codes, interesting stories,
etc., especially where my existing information is scanty.  Thanks,  Ken



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