42-95042 | American Air Museum

Nicknames: Sweet Sue
Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
Production block number: B-24H-25-FO
Manufacturer: Ford
Markings & paint scheme: Natural Metal Finish. Black circle (indicating 2nd Air Division) with a centered silver "F" (indicating 445th Bomb Group) on top of the right wing. The outer face of both vertical stabilizers painted black with a centered white horizontal stripe (also indicating 445th BG). The radio call letter (RCL) "X" was centered in the white stripe in black. Toward the top of the inner face of the vertical stabilizers the tail number "295042" in black. On both sides of the fuselage near the gunners' windows the squadron code "RN" indicating the 703rd Bomb Sqn) & the RCL "X" in black (RN-X). On the forward fuselage below the pilots' windows the name "Sweet Sue" in black.

42-95042 Sweet Sue

media-57138.jpeg UPL 57138 42-95042, B-24H-25-FO, 445th BG, 703rd BS, 8th AF, "Sweet Sue", RN-X. Crash-landing near Croxton, UK.

NARA

Object Number - UPL 57138 - 42-95042, B-24H-25-FO, 445th BG, 703rd BS, 8th AF, "Sweet Sue", RN-X. Crash-landing near Croxton, UK.

703rd BS, 445th BG, 8th AF. "Sweet Sue", RN-X. Flew 36 missions with the 445th BG. Made a crash-landing while on a training mission 14 Aug 44 after an electrical short caused an oxygen bottle to explode. The nose gear collapsed while landing in an open field. All 8 on the crew survived with only 1 minor injury. The aircraft was salvaged 14-15 Aug 44.

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.

445th Bomb Group

Unit Hierarchy: Group
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

703rd Bomb Squadron

Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Air Force: Eighth Air Force
Type Category: Bombardment

Places

Tibenham

Site type: Airfield
Known as: Tivetshall

Revisions

Date6 May 2022 19:48:05

ContributorUALDC8

Changes

Sources

Heavy Bombers of the Mighty Eighth
Losses of the US 8th & 9th Air Forces - Vol 5
Battle Colors - Vol 1
Mike Simpson's 445th Bomb Group Website
B-24 Best Website

42-95042: Gallery (1 items)

Object number: UPL 57138 - 42-95042, B-24H-25-FO, 445th BG, 703rd BS, 8th AF...