Pictures of B-26C 42-107581 "Black Jack"

[Mortmer]

Hello,

I am hoping that there might be some pictures of B-26C 42-107581 "Black Jack" or it's crew in someone's collection.

S/Sgt Valentine G. Frisz, Jr., my great uncle, was a radio gunner in the 558th Bombardment Squadron, 387th Bombardment Group, IX Bomber Command, 98th Bombardment Wing (Medium), 9th Air Force, based at Chipping Ongar, Essex, England. On 12 April 1944, he was flying in B-26C 42-107581, "Black Jack," the lead plane for a mission against the harbor at Dunkirk. The plane took a direct flak hit in the left wing and went down.

I've done the usual web searches and turned up nothing.

Thanks for any help.

[Lon Moer]

http://www.b26.com/guestbook/2005.htm#B26_Blackjack

Right: Black Jack 42-107581 TQ-Y of 387th BG 559th BS piloted by Colonel Jack E. Caldwell lost a wing from a FLAK hit over Dunkirk on April 12th 1944. MACR # 3745.

[Squadron]

The aircraft in the photograph whilst bearing the name "Black Jack" and the last three of the serial of 581 is sadly not 42-107581 which was a B-26C-45.MO model which would have been in natural metal finish.

This aircraft in the photo is a B-26B-MA model s/n 41-17581 which served in the Pacific theatre. Note the small carburettor intakes on the top of the cowling a and the short nose leg and lack of bulge on the nose wheel doors, also note the large spinners which were discontinued on later models.

Sadly I have never come across a photo of 42-107581.

Regards

Alan

[Mortmer]

Thank you both for your efforts and information.

Paul

[Lon Moer]

I just posted what I found on B-26.com.
But, I'm having a real hard time believing that two B-26's with extremely similar serial numbers ended up with the same name half a world apart from each other.