Warbird Information Exchange

The A-26 questions posted by Mike got me thinking: How many WWII aircraft are still in existence (that we know of) that flew over 100 combat missions? Anybody have a list?

Even though it's late and I gotta get to bed, off the top of my head I can think of the following:

A-26C "Reida Rae" NEAM, CT
Lancaster "S" for Sugar, RAF Musuem
B-26 Marauder "Flak-Bait" NASM

Their has to be more. Any takers?
Blue skies,
Jerry

There is a 1944 OY-1 for sale right now which flew spotter and medevac missions in the Pacific with VMO-2. Quite a few of the Australian based L4's and L5's are combat veterans with hundreds of hours of time on the islands, some of them with well documented histories. I don't think the L birds can be defined by missions, as most of their operations were classed as sorties, but most of those with combat history out there flew hundreds of hours during WWII in Theatre. There is one L5 here in the states which has combat history in WWII and Korea (it actually showed up in footage taken for a movie, but I can't remember which one off hand).

Anyone know what Strawberry_Bitch's combat record was? She is B-24D-160-CO (S/N 42-72843) of the 376 Bomb Group 512 Bomb Squadron for those who might not of known.

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Spitfire Mk IX ML119.

Over 100 operational flights as the personal aircraft of two successive Commanding Officers of 1 Squadron RAF. S/L's Pat Lardner-Burke and David Cox.

Recovered from Burma to the US in 1999 , it is currently in private storage in the UK awaiting restoration to fly.

As UB441, it was by coincidence also the personal machine of the CO of 1 Squadron Burmese Air Force in the 1950's.

PeterA

I emailed the Natl Museum of the USAF this morning asking them how many combat missions Strawberry Bitch went on. Their response was 59 combat missions the last one being on Jun 10,44.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

I believe the B-26 "Mild and Bitter" was American aircraft to complete 100 missions in the ETO. And "Hells Belle II" was the first B-26 to complete 100 missions...which happened in the MTO.

(Edit - I just noticed you asked for aircraft "still in existence" ...and unfortunately these two no longer exist, except maybe as pots and pans in someone's kitchen )

The MAAM's B-25 Briefing Time is a combat vetern. I don't know how many missions she was on. Anybody?

The P-39Q-15 and Bf-109E-7 we recovered from Russia in 2002 and 2004 both had over 100 combat missions.

I bet there are quit a few C-47s and other such cargo planes.

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When all is said and done more is said than done.

Hey Pat
Good on ya for finding out her missions. I've noticed that there has been some debate as to whether or not Strawberry Bitch actually participated in the Polesti Raid. Did they happen to mention this in the email? Thanks

Shay
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Semper Fortis

APG85, The last research I did on MAAM's Briefing Time (B25-J-25-NA 44-29939) indicated that they had found no details of her military service. A search of their web site indicates no further details of her combat missions, neither does a "google".

On another note, the Cavanaugh Flight Museum's award-winning B25 restoration "How 'Boot That" is an 82+ combat mission survivor with the 380 BS, 310 BG, 57 Bomb Wing while based in Italy (Corsica?).

This a/c is not the real Briefing Time and has NO combat record at all. This is a myth started by the owners years ago who have even (I'm told) tried to replace the data place and change paperwork to conform with the original. The late historian Bill Slate researched this to the fullest degree and refuted any and all attempts to alter the a/c's real history. You can get more info on this from Scott Thompson's site and forum.

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Don't touch my junk!!

Lancaster W4783 G-George which resides in the Australian War Memorial came pretty close to the ton, with it's 90 missions.

n/a