NAME

TP

-

M#

SER

-

BLK

-

MF

SERIAL #

AF

BG

BS

SC

RCL/#

V#-P

PHOTO CREDITS

CLASSY CHASSIS

B

-

24

H

-

20

-

CF

42-50291

8

486

832

3R

P

00-2

N/A

Nose Art Inspiration - ALBERTO VARGAS
Featured in "The Freckleton, England, Air Disaster"

Contributor - Tom Ensminger

Info Contributor - Tom Brittan
Never flew a combat mission in 490th BG. Transferred before 4 Jun 44 to 486th BG, 832nd BS as 3R P. After leaving that Group and while on a test flight on 23 Aug 44 (piloted by 1st Lt J. A. Bloemendal), it crashed at Freckleton, Lancashire, on the infants department of Holy Trinity School, slewed across the main road and demolished a snack bar. It was trying to land during a storm at the nearby BAD 2 (402nd AD), Warton, to which it was assigned at the time. This disaster claimed the lives of 38 children, 9 British civilians (including 2 teachers), four RAF sergeants and 10 USAAF personnel (including the 3 crew members on the B-24).

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