42-52597 Lady Lightning

media-17199.jpeg UPL 17199 B-24H-15-FO #42-52597 "Lady Lightning" Code: T9-M
466th BG - 785th BS 466th Bomb Group collection

466th BG Historian

Object Number - UPL 17199 - B-24H-15-FO #42-52597 "Lady Lightning" Code: T9-M 466th BG - 785th BS

Our pilot (Arthur Kraft) picked the plane up at the Willow Run factory and had to sign a $50,000 voucher. We were a new group. In February 1944 we took off from West Palm Beach, FL, stopped in Trinidad and then on to Belem, Brazil. From there we went to Fortaleza, Brazil which was the jumping off point to fly over the Atlantic. From Fortaleza we flew to Dakar (now in Senegal). On the way to Dakar, we were past the point of no return when we were caught in an electrical storm. We were lit up like little Las Vegas! The radio operator had the trailing antenna out and lightning struck it, entering the catwalk in the bomb bay that lead to the cockpit. It completely destroyed the radios. The tail gunner was asleep on the catwalk at the time. He had GI flashlight in his pocket at the time. The lightning destroyed the flashlight and left a hole in the fuselage large enough to crawl through, but luckily the tail gunner was just stunned.

The next day we flew to Marrakesh, Morrocco where the repair of the plane took place. Then on to Shannon, Ireland and then to Attlebridge. When we arrived at Attlebridge we decided the appropriate name of the aircraft should be "Lady Lightning"! - James Bates, Waist Gunner

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35553545
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33305393
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

First Combat Mission

Berlin, Germany 22 March 1944

Other

Shot Down

7946 Wanneperveen, Netherlands 15 August 1944

Delivered

Willow Run, Ypsilanti Charter Twp, MI 48198, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Removed punctuation in the A/C "Description" to aid consistency.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Corrected a typo in the "Summary biography".

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Archives - Info provided by James O. Bates

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom
page 161

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

"Attlebridge Arsenal" - Brassfield & Wassom - page 161
Original story from a letter from James Bates to John Woolnough, February 1994

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

466th Archives - Chris Brassfield

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 8428 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-52597: Gallery (4 items)