B-24A 40-2370 Destroyed by straffing ...

[Mark Allen M]

Consolidated B-24A Liberator 40-2370 'Arabian Nights' that had a sad ending. (7th BG, 11th BS) destroyed by strafing after Java evacuation Mar 3, 1942. On pg. 328 of Wm. H. Bartsch's "Every Day a Nightmare", this B-24A flown by Maj Edson Kester's crew was destroyed during an evacuation flight from Java to Australia when an in-flight fire caused the a/c to ditch enroute to Broome Airfield, Australia.

[Mark Allen M]

Thread reused.

[phil65]

Looks like they painted over the flag.
I guess they didn't want to give it away that it was an American aircraft...

Phil

[quemerford]

40-2370 showing as received 18Jun41; to San Antonio Air Depot Jun41; to Bolling Field 27Aug41 and then to Ferry Command 27Jan42; "Condemned per budget report 4-22-42" but also "Condemned - Continental US 5-11-[4]2".

[Buz]

If you read the IARC carefully you'll note that from the entry FY 2 c.mo 3 there is no change in the reported flight time - so the 'Condemned Continental US 5/11/2' is very likely an administrative write off date either from a Ferry Cmd return or from a Census (there are a number admin dates, cannot recall if this is one or not) or it is in error (won't be the first time). The 22 April 42 is likely the return from the 5th AF to the SCU and is probably the "true" write off date.

Interestingly the 2 other B-24's destroyed on the same day and in the same raid show that 40-2373 #73 has the same entries, whereas 40-2374 #74 shows 'Condemned Continental US 4/22/2'. The Two B-17's (41-2449 and 41-2454) lost in the same raid show 'LEFT Con INV 10-31-44 (1-9-45)'. Makes the work Bill and the others who research the early operations and any overseas units very important when chasing air frame histories.

The painted out Flag - great trying to show the Neutrality of the aircraft pre-7th Dec 41, not much help after that and a big bright giveaway.......although a number of aircraft flew around with this still in place after the start of the US participation in WW2. Both images I'd suggest were taken at Amberley Airfield, likely sometime in Feb 42. I may be incorrect but I thought this aircraft was shot down just after take off heading towards Perth....?

Buz