42-52132 - Boomerang
Standing left to right : SSgt. Bill McCullah - SSgt. Raymond Giwojna - SSgt. Benjamin Means - SSgt. Norbert (Mike) Duginske - SSgt. Kenneth Dyer.
Kneeling : Unknown maintenance crew members. Not shown : 2nd Lt. Paul Helander - Pilot - 2nd Lt. John Schneider - Copilot - 2nd Lt. Alfred Cannon - Navigator - 2nd Lt. Henry Snyder - Bombardier
Best Web - B-24 - Boomerang
The Liberator bomber, B-24H-10-FO, 42-52132, was assigned to Crew 11 of the 712th Bomb Squadron, and the 448th Bomb Group, in October, 1943. It was named, Boomerang, by the crew when they arrived at the Topeka Army Air Field, Kansas, to take ownership of the bomber after their advanced training was completed. It was, then, flown to Seething, England, via South America and North Africa by Crew 11 in November, 1943. Crew 11 was scheduled to fly their 6th mission with, Boomerang, on 10 Feb, 1944, when they were told to stand down, and that Crew 5 would be flying the next mission to Gilz-Rijen, Holland.
Later, while forming up over England, Boomerang, broke apart and crashed in bad weather after the pilot's violent maneuvering attempts to avoid a midair collision with another B-17. The airplane disintegrated and failed to return to base (FTR). The pilot's violent maneuvering also caused the tail turret to separate from the aircraft, with the overloads on the aircraft's wings buckling them, as well, during the aircraft's violent maneuvers. Seven crew members were unable to bail out from the plane and were killed. Three bailed successfully, survived, and returned to service (RTS). The book describes the event in detail on pages 58-60. 7 RTS. 3 KIA.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35582659
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39263863
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Bomb Division 20th Combat Bomb Wing 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-752243
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot, Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36285186
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 448th Bomb Group 712th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16021987
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Gunner
Places
Missions
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Delivered |
Topeka Regional Airport, Kansas (formally Topeka Army Air Field) | 1 October 1943 | Crew 11 was assigned aircraft 42-52132 which was delivered to Topeka Army Air Field, Kansas. |
Crashed |
Tibenham, Norwich, Norfolk NR16, UK | 10 February 1944 | Aircraft crashed near Tibenham, Norfolk. Seven of the crew were killed, three survived. |
Revisions
"Liberators over Germany in WWII", pages 58-60, by Jeffrey E. Brett ----
- Removed all all capital letters and quotation marks around aircraft name, for clarity, uniformity, and readability. - Kickapoo
Updated details of the history of "Boomerang" from Crew 11 member Bill McCullah's memoirs.
Created entry using information taken from Robert C Ayrest's page.