42-40354 / 40-2354 - Snafu
Starboard - Right) Side - "Situation Normal All [Fouled] Up" - Shown 1 Sep 42. England
Lost 16 Feb 43 over France. Pilot Fred M. Billings. MAC (Mid Air Collision) over the English Channel with the B-24D, Bela, 41-23818. 20 KIA. MACR 5095
This airframe was manufactured, 42-40354, as one of a batch of 20 B-24Ds with serials 40-2349 - 2368, formally allocated serial number, 40-2354, from a batch of unused serial numbers initially slated for a run of lend lease B-24A Liberators funded in Fiscal Year 1940. Info Contributor - Al Blue
Image stamped on reverse: 'Not to be published 5 Sep 1942.' [stamp] and '219925.' [Censor no.] A printed caption was previously attached to the reverse however this has been removed. Roger Freeman Collection
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40354 - Snafu. Info Contributor - Al Blue
The B-24D Liberator, Snafu, was first manufactured as a B-24D model with the serial number, 42-40354, but, later, was allocated and redesignated with the British Lend Lease RAF serial number, 40-2354, from a batch of unused serial numbers, initially slated for a run of B-24A cargo Liberators funded in Fiscal Year 1940. It was one of a batch of 20 B-24Ds with serial numbers, 40-2349 - 40-2368. The reason for the early serial numbers, which were part of the B-24A serial run, is that 20 B-24As were exchanged with the British, which assigned serials, AM910 - AM929, to the ex B-24As, and the USAAF took 20 later D Model planes from British allocations, and gave them the, then, unused, early serial numbers. The first two numbers of any USAAF serial number designates the Fiscal Year funds that were used to pay for the airplane. Thus, the use of "40 dash" serial numbers for these planes was entirely appropriate, since 1940 was the year when the money was allocated.
The apparent lack of oval cowls is a photographic illusion. They are there. The low pitot masts are typical of all the early B-24Ds. This plane has been modified to include a scarf mounted .50 cal. gun and scanning windows in the ventral position.
The aircraft was originally assigned to the 66th Bomb Squadron, in the 44th Bomb Group, and the VIII Bomber Command in the U.K.
On 16 Feb 1943, Snafu, crashed and was lost when Pilot Lt. Fred M. Billings collided with the B-24D, Bela - Texan II, 41-23818, on a bombing mission over the English Channel. Snafu was dispatched to bomb the U-Boat pens at St. Nazaire, France. Shortly after leaving the English coast, the aircraft was hit by anti aircraft flak. It fell out of control, and collided in mid air with the B-24D, 41-23818, Bela - Texan II, also from the 44th Bomb Group and the 67th Bomb Squadron. It, then, caught fire and exploded. Both planes fell through a formation of B-17s and crashed into the English Channel off Selsey Bill, Sussex, with both crews killed in action. 20 KIA. FRANCE. 16 Feb 43. MACR 5095.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14042027
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-411918
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 44th Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 66th Bomb Squadron 68th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14046874
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 18th Weather Squadron 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-436139
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38104143
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
Missions
- Date: 16 February 1943
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Texan
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Texan II - Bela - Miss Marcie Ann
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Snafu
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Other Failed to Return (FTR) Over Water (OW) |
English Channel | 16 February 1943 | Sustained a mid-air collision with B-24D 41-23818 "Texan II" shortly after leaving the English coast off of Selsey Bill, Sussex. Aircraft exploded and crashed into the sea. |
Revisions
Best Web - B-24 - 42-40354 - Snafu. Info Contributor - Stephen Adams
Removed information pertaining to Liberator AM915 (allocated manufacturer's serial number 40-2354 ) and clarified the misunderstanding between the two air frames based on information research by Joe Baugher
Amended markings field to reflect official descriptions supplied in US Army Air Forces Painting Practices and Battle Colours and Markings VIII Bomber Command, and removing references to markings which cannot be supported by pictorial evidence.
Removed circular aircraft association to 42-40354
Removed association to 8th Air Force, as unit did not officially exist before February 1944, and bombers were under VIII Bomber Command until this date
Removed list of crew from biography, as they are associated to record.
B-24 - Best Web - #42-40354 also had the serial number # 40-2354 - 'SNAFU'
Lee Cunningham 30-Jan-2015. Added crew display, see previous Source citation.
Lee Cunningham 30-Jan-2015. Added nickname, markings, FTR description and crafted Description per "Losses of the 8th & 9th AIr Forces" Stan Bishop & John A. Hey MBE; Made connections to Place and Mission within existing website data; Added crew position, rank, full proper name and disposition per MACR 5095; formatted crew display.
MACR 5095 & 3202 B / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database