Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator 41-24223 "Doodlebug" of the 308th Bomb Group 373rd Bomb Squadron.
Yangkai, China October - November 1943.
"A San Diego built D model,
Doodlebug was one of the original nine B-24D's assigned to the 373rd BS. Lt Bernard O'Hara and his crew flew the B-24 to China, leaving the United States on 15 February 1943 with the rest of the 308th BG. At the Tenth Air Force air depot at Agra, in India, a number of the 308th BG's B-24D's possibly including
Doodlebug, had nose art painted on them by a Cpl A C Mitchell, who was stationed at the depot. In the first version of
Doodlebug's nose art the comely young lady sat naked on the bomb - a bathing suit was added later. The aircraft's mission list provides a graphic illustration of the logistical problems that confronted the 308th BG in China. During the bomber's ten months in-theater,
Doodlebug and its crews flew 11 bombing missions and more than 50 sorties over the 'Hump' ferrying gasoline, bombs and other supplies for the 308th. The aircraft's gunners claimed ten Japanese fighters shot down and 18 probably destroyed in a running battle lasting 25 minutes during the disastrous mission to Haiphong on 15 September 1943 when a large group of fighters attacked the small 373rd BS formation. SSgt Charles E Edwards and TSgt Joseph E Murry both claimed three fighters destroyed and five probables. JAAF aircraft downed three of the five 373rd B-24's attacking Haiphong and damaged a fourth so badly that it crashed on landing back at Kunming.
Doodlebug was the only bomber to return safely to Yangkai. It was sent home in December 1943 in company with fellow 308th BG veteran B-24's."
Source: B-24 Liberator Units of the CBI
Sichuan (China), B-24 'Doodlebug' being prepared for a mission.
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