Assembly Ships of the Mighty 8th
1October 20, 2024B-24 D-165-CO # 42-72869 "Bear Down"
This aircraft served with 93rd Bomb Group in Hardwick after becoming war weary in August 1944 having completed 45 bombing missions. Bear Down served as an assembly ship until the end of the war.
2October 20, 2024B-24H-CF#41-29208 Shoo Shoo Baby, Assembly Ship of the 44th BG, Shipdam, April 1944
Originally assigned to the 712th BS / 448th BG, where it was marked Triangle/C, Shoo Shoo Baby flew only one mission on 22 December 1943. After transfer to the 66th BS / 44th BG, the aircraft flew 19 missions as QK-D+ until March 1944, when it was withdrawn from service and refitted for daylight reassembly. All gun turrets were removed, a new nose glazing and a Bell Power Boost Unit with light installation for pre-dawn rendezvous were fitted. Because Shoo Shoo Baby flew its missions in twilight, it retained its original camouflage in Olive Drab and Neutral Grey, as no one would have noticed a conspicuous paint job in the dark. Shoo Shoo Baby returned to the USA on 7 March 1945.
3October 20, 2024B-17E #41-9100 “Birmingham Blitzkrieg” (379th BG, Kimbolton, 1944)
Originally, from 11 Apr 1942, the Birmingham Blitzkrieg was operated by the 414th BS/97th BG. It was one of 12 B-17s that flew the first mission for the 8th Bomber Command on 17 Aug 1942. On 24 Aug 1942 the aircraft was sent to the CCRC in Bovington. In the summer of 1944, the aircraft was transferred to the 525th BS/379th BG and repainted with red and white stripes and renamed FR-U. The B-17 served as an assembly ship for this unit until it was scrapped after the war on 18 June 1945.
4October 20, 2024B-24H-11FO-#42-7552 "Lil'Cookie"
Assembly Ship of 489th BG, Halesworth, August 1944. Originally assigned to the 676th Bomb Squadron / 489th BG as B, the aircraft was transferred to the 66th BS / 44th BG and re-coded K before its first mission. After further changes, during which the aircraft was disarmed and fitted with light markings on both sides of the fuselage, the code changed to Z. Initially, ‘Lil'Cookie’ retained its original camouflage, but after its first deployment as a ‘rendevous ship’ it was painted with yellow ‘Polkadots’ to make it easier to recognise. Only the undersides of the wings were left out.
5October 20, 2024B-17F-90-BO #42-30145 “Green Hornet” (486th BG, Sudberry, 1944)
From 7 Jan 1944 the Green Hornet was loaned to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborrogh for range tests. From Feb 1944 it was loaned to the 486th BG, where the entire armament and the 2 turrets were removed. It was repainted to light green and received dark green ‘decorative’ stripes. The main tasks were now transport, weather observation and communication relay. Some unconfirmed reports state that the Green Hornet was used as an assembly ship for the 486th. If these reports are true, the Green Hornet would have been the only assembly ship used in the 3rd AD.
6October 21, 2024B-24J-55-CO#41-99972 RR●I+
After the crash of the Green Dragon, the departed B-24J-55-CO#41-99972 RR●I+ became its successor in the 389th Bomber Group. Until July 1944 it flew a series of missions with 566th BS / 389th BG as RR●I+. After the aircraft was lightened by replacing the turrets with glazing, the fuselage and engines were painted with a pattern of yellow and green squares. The wings and tail units were left in their original colour.
7October 21, 2024B-24D-1-CO #41-23689 ‘Minerva’ (392nd BG, Wending, 1944)
Initially assigned to the 44th BG, the Minerva was transferred to the 392nd BG in January 1944 to serve as an assembly ship. This aircraft was given one of the most unusual paint schemes of the war, based on a test camouflage paint scheme on #42-40186, which was being tested by the AAF in the USA. Initially the Minerva retained its upper and rear turrets, but these were removed in April 1944. The outside of the tail surfaces were also repainted white with a black horizontal stripe. Sometime in 1944 Minerva had a major accident, but was restored by the 392nd BG and then passed on to other bomber groups. In April 1945, at the end of its long operational life, Minerva was used for a 10-hour test flight with 52 soldiers and their equipment to determine whether bombers would be suitable for transporting troops home.
8October 21, 2024B-24D-1-CO#41-23699 "Lemon Drop"
Assembly Ship of the 44th BG, Shipdham, February 1944. The aircraft was withdrawn from combat in early 1944 after 45 missions and became the first assembly ship of the group (known as the ‘Cowboy Ship’ in the 44th BG). Unlike other assembly ships in the group, it retained its turret armament. She was painted with yellow and black stripes and was used for daylight collection. In April/May 1944, all aircraft of the 44th BG were painted with black stripes on the rudder, including the Lemon Drop. Interestingly, the original nose art and emblems were retained. Apparently the repainting was sloppy; the new colour came off in large shreds, especially on the nose shortly after painting.
9October 22, 2024B-24D-20-CF#42-63981 The Striped Ape, Assembly Ship of the 448th BG, Seething, June 1944.
Preliminary view based on the research of Peter G. Cooksley. Not much is known for certain about this mysterious Liberator. After its operational life, the aircraft became an assembly ship of the 448th BG and was named Striped Ape. The aircraft replaced ‘You Can't Miss It’ in June 1944 and was scrapped in February 1945 and replaced by the B-24H-15-CF, #41-29489, which was named ‘The Striped Ape’.
10October 22, 2024B-24 D-5-CD # 41-23809 "You Cawn't Miss It"
Stationed in Seething with 448th Bomb Group February 1944.
11October 22, 2024B-24D-CO#41-24245 "Lucky Gordon* (445th BG, Tibenham, 1944)
After being decommissioned from the 93rd BG, the ‘Lucky Gordon’ was transferred to the 445th BG and became the group's first assembly ship. The armament was removed for the new role and painted with yellow and black stripes except for the undersides of the wings and tail. A large white ‘F’ with position lights was also added to both sides of the fuselage. Additional lights were installed on the top of the fuselage. The aircraft retained its ‘nose art’ on the right side of the fuselage. The serial number was not applied in accordance with the standard. The ‘Lucky Gordon’ took its bomber group far beyond the English Channel on several occasions. In 1944 the ‘Lucky Gordon’ was replaced by an unknown, unpainted (natural metal-finish) B-24H.
12October 21, 2024B-24D-30CO#42-40127 ‘First Sergeant’
Assembly Ship of the 458th BG, Horsham St. Faith, February 1944, first flew as ‘Thar She Blows’ with call letter B in the 330th BS /93rd BG before the aircraft was moved to the 329th BS and the call letter changed to O. In February 1944, the B-24 joined the 448th BG and became the assembly ship of the group. It was given the new letter Z (for Zebra forming aircraft). A white circle with the letter ‘K’ was added above the Z.
13October 23, 2024B-24D-30CO#42-40127 ‘First Sergeant’ (458th BG, Horsham St. Faith, 1944)
In March 1944 the fuselage of the First Sergeant was painted with dots. Blue/red dots on a white background and yellow/red dots on the olive-coloured tail. In addition, the national emblem on the fuselage was painted over with a large white circle with the letter ‘K’ (identification of the 458th BG). The upper turret was replaced by an observation cupola.
14October 23, 2024B-24-D-53-CO #42-40370 "Pete the Pom Inspector"
This B-24 originally flew the 1 Aug 43 Ploesti mission with the 44th BG / 506th BS 'Heaven can Wait' (V), but aborted before the target and landed on Cyprus. Transferred to the 389th BG / 566th BS (EE W) at the beginning of Nov 43, and flew on combat operations through 26 Mar 44, then transferred to the 467th BG and became an assembly aircraft.
15October 24, 2024B-24-H-30-CO #42-40127 "Spotted Ass Ape"
Assembly Ship with 458th Bomb Group Horsham St. Faith May 1944. After the accident of First Sergeant, this airplane became its successor. This is the only model of the collection shown "in flight" and the only B-24 realized from the old Airfix B-24-J kit with many modifications and a handpainted sharkmouth.
16October 24, 2024B-24-J-145-CO # 44-40101 "Tubarão" (Portugiese for Shark)
Assembly ship of the 491st BG. North Pickenham, January 1945. After Rage In Heaven crashed, a twenty-mission veteran of the 491st BG, Tubarão was given the job. Like
Rage In Heaven, Tubarão kept its defensive armament. This aircraft served as formation aircraft until the end of combat operations.
17October 26, 2024B-17E-90-BO #41-9020 ‘Tugboat Annie’ (303rd BG, Molesworth, 1944)
Originally this B-17 belonged to the 340th BS / 97 BG at Polebrook (March 1942) and had the name Phyllis. Between March and August it took part in several bombing raids. In August she was assigned to the 92nd BG at Bovingdon and made some courier flights to North Africa. In September 1942, the aircraft was involved in a collision with a B-17E (#41-9051) from the 326th BS, but both aircraft were repaired. In April 1943 it was assigned to the 303rd BG and renamed Tugboat Annie. She was first used as a target tug and later also as an assembly ship. At this time she had broad black and white stripes without insignia. She crash-landed on 23 July 1944 and was then cannibalised by the 2nd SAD at Little Staughton.
18October 26, 2024B-24D-1-CO#41-23667 "Ball Of Fire"
This bomber was originally an aircraft of the 93rd BG. Due to extensive damage during a mission in the autumn of 1942, it was withdrawn from service and used as an ambulance and a target display aircraft. At some point a lighting pattern was added to make it clearly visible in the dark. A special livery was added later when the machine was used to collect bandages. The model pictured shows it as an assembly ship of the 93rd BG at Hardwick in December 1943.
19October 26, 2024B-24D-1-CO#41-23683 ‘The Green Dragon’ 389th Bomber Group, Hethel, January 1944
The Green Dragon was one of the first aircraft used to consolidate formations. In December 1943 ‘Jo Jo's Special Delivery’ was taken over after the 93rd BG was transferred from North Africa to England and the aircraft was stripped of its colour and then painted with yellow and green diagonal stripes on the wings and fuselage. Originally known as the ‘Zebra Forming Aircraft’, it retained the armament of the dorsal and aft turrets. The navigation lights in the rear part of the fuselage are interesting. In the spring of 1944, two small changes were made to the appearance of the Green Dragon: The armament was removed and the engine cowlings were replaced and painted with yellow and green stripes to match the hull.
20October 26, 2024B-24H-20-CF #41-50288 ‘Dumbo’ 466th BG, Attlebridge, January 1945
In late 1944, the 466th BG needed a lead aircraft for a late afternoon formation reunion. In January it was decided to convert "Dumbo ’ for this task. At this point, the aircraft was considered to be war weary. It was lightened by the addition of a D-series glass nose and the tail was modified to accommodate the navigation lights. The upper fuselage turret was left as it was including the armament.
21October 27, 2024B-24-H-15-CF #41-29489 "The Striped Ape" of the 448th BG, Seething, February 1945.
From February 1945, the task of visual command and control of the 448th BG was taken over by the Fort Worth-built B-24H of the 714th BS. The aircraft was made lighter by removing all weapon stations and turrets. The Striped Ape was taken out of service in May 1945.
22October 27, 2024B-24D-20-CO #41-24'109, 466th BG, Attlebridge, May 1944.
Originally ‘Ready & Willing’, the B-24 took part in the 330th BS / 93rd BG's ‘Tidal Wave’ attack on the Ploesti oil refineries on 1 August 1943, where it was the last aircraft over the target.
In March 1944, the aircraft was decommissioned and transferred to the 466th BG and given the role of assembly ship. It was disarmed and the upper turret was replaced by an observation cupola. The tail section was refitted and all the paint removed. ‘109’ was finally scrapped in Watton in May 1945.
23October 27, 2024B-17F, #41-9043 Little Rock-ette of the 381st BG, Ridgewell, spring of 1945.
As Peggy D the aircraft performed combat missions with the 534th BS / 381st BG. Due to wear the aircraft was withdrawn from combat, disarmed and sent for second-line duties. It was used as a station hack, assembly aircraft and a fast communications aircraft. Little Rock-ette returned to the USA on 29th October 1945.
24October 30, 2024B-24D-95-CO#42-40743 "Zebra" (42nd BG North Pickenham, May 1944)
Before "Zebra" was converted to an assembly ship on 15 May, it was used by crews of the 576th Bomber Squadron of the 389th Bomb Group. As HP O, the aircraft was involved in 56 missions. Among them was the famous low-level attack on the oil fields of Ploesti on 1 August 1943.
25October 30, 2024B-17-G5-VE #42-39914 "The Black Bitch" Assembly Ship with 351 BG Polebrook 1945
Delivered Long Beach 7/10/43; Gr Island 5/11/43; Assigned 509BS/351BG [RQ-S] Polebrook 21/1/44 named "Lucky Strike"; after returning from mission 14/6/44 the undercarriage collapsed. After repairs the plane was stripped of all turrets and armour, then painted all black giving her about 15mph more top speed and became an assembly ship.
26October 30, 2024B-24D-90-CO #42-40722 "The Little Gramper", assembly ship of the 491st BG, Medfield, June 1944.
Originally, the aircraft served with the 567th BS / 389th BG. It took part in the ‘Tidal Wave’ operation (the attack on the Romanian Ploesti Oil Refinery complex). Next the aircraft was part of the 566th BS / 389th BG, and flew as B+ and then RR●B+.The aircraft carried out 52 combat sorties with ‘The Sky Scorpions’ until May 1944.
On 15th May 1944 the aircraft was transferred to the 491st BG where it was lightened by removing the armament and unimportant equipment to become an assembly aircraft. The Little Gramper in its new role served for only two months, and was replaced by one of the group’s war-weary B-24Js, Rage In Heaven.
27October 30, 2024B-17F-60-DL #42-3441 "The Spotted Cow" with 384 BG Grafton Underwood Summer 1944
Delivered to Denver 14/6/43; Kearney 19/7/43; Assigned to the 547th BS, squadron code SO-E, 384th BG, Station 106, Grafton Underwood, UK on 9/8/43 named "Patches II". When war weary the ship was used as an assembly ship. Returned to the USA Grenier 24/9/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap metal in USA) Walnut Ridge 12/12/45
28October 31, 2024B-17F-80-BO #42-29947 "Wabash Cannonball" of the 303rd BG, Molesworth, September 1944.
This B-17 originally flew with the 322nd BS / 91st BG as LG●U. After 58 missions it was declared war-weary and stripped of armament. On 27th July 1943 it was sent to the 303rd BG as the Headquarters utility aircraft. After Tugboat Annie crashed, from September 1944 Wabash Cannonball overtook Annie’s tasks, including help during formation assembly. When the aircraft served with the 303rd BG it did not have any special scheme. It was painted in a standard camouflage of Olive Drab. The original nose art and scoreboard (58 small orange bombs and 9 swastikas) remained. In June 1945 it returned to the USA. On 16th July 1945 it was scrapped in Oklahoma City.
29October 31, 2024B-24D-20-CF #42-63981 "The Striped Ape" (1), Assembly Ship of the 448th BG. Seething, June 1944.
Thanks to Stephen Adams, who owns a photograph, we now know what the 1st Striped Ape (1st) looked like. The aircraft replaced "You Cawn't Miss It" in the Assembly Ship role in June 1944, was scrapped in February 1945 and replaced by B-24H-15-CF, #41-29489, which was named "The Striped Ape" once again. We know from fragmentary information that the aircraft retained its camouflage colours of olive drab and neutral grey, with yellow diagonal stripes painted over. The aircraft retained all standard national markings and group markings.
30November 2, 2024B-24J-150-CO #44-40165 "Rage In Heaven" (491st BG, North Pickenham, September 1944)
‘Rage In Heaven’ kept the armament and also the nose art The engine cover of engine No.1 comes from another B-24 Liberator.
‘Rage In Heaven’ crashed, exploded and burnt out near Swaffham on 5 January 1945 after taking off in a snowstorm. Another B-24 crashed in the same way a few minutes later. Eventually the mission was cancelled.
31November 2, 2024B-24J-95-CO #42-100366 "Mizpah" of the 458th BG, Horsham St. Faith in late August 1944.
"Mizpah ’ was used as an assembly ship for the 458th BG for only one mission on 12 March 1945 between its 70th and 71st regular mission but remained a normal bomber in the group and flew a further 15 combat missions until 25 April 1945. Mizpah returned to the USA with 85 operational markings and was scrapped at Albuquerque on 24 September 1945.
32November 2, 2024B-24D-1-CO#41-23738 "Wham Bam" (453rd BG, Old Buckenham, 1944)
Originally this aircraft was flown operationally by the 330th BS/93rd BG. In early 1944, the aircraft was transferred to the 453rd BG as the main assembly ship. The aircraft retained its original camouflage livery, which was overpainted with yellow squares in a chequerboard pattern. The armament was removed and the upper turret was replaced by a glass canopy. The original bugs bunny ‘nose art’ was retained on both sides of the fuselage.
33November 13, 2024B-24D1-CO#41-23737 “Fearless Freddie” (446th Bomber Group, Bungay, February 1944)
Under the original name “Eager Beaver”, the aircraft took part in 44 missions with the 328th Bomber Squadron of the 93rd BG before being transferred to the 446th Bomber Group as an assembly ship and >photo aircraft on February 24, 1944. After its arrival in Bungay, the armament was removed and painted completely in orange color. It was tested by Lt. Colonel Frederick J. Knorre and then named “Fearless Freddie” after him.
34October 31, 2024Time to take a moment to remember the late Rolf Neukom (+ March 5, 2024), mastermind and contributor of the majority of models, decals and scratchbuilt conversion parts to this wonderful project.
35November 2, 2024P-47 D-10-RE #42-75151 MX*L, 91st Bomb Group’s formation monitor.
The fourth stage of the markings during service with 1st CBW, after being transferred directly to the 91st BG.
36November 2, 2024P-47D-5-RE #42-8522, formation monitor of the 92nd BG, Podington, 1945.
Note that the aircraft lacks its machine-guns and gunsight, but was fitted with D/F loop and a modified canopy, a ‘Malcolm Hood’.
37November 2, 2024P-47C-5-RE #41-6630, formation monitor of the 453rd BG. Old Buckenham, winter of 1945.
The whole machine was stripped of paint, except for a short anti-glare panel, wing root panels and the vertical tail which were painted black.
38November 3, 2024P-47D-25-RE#42-26393 Little Pete 2, formation monitor of the 467th BG. Rackheath, January 1945.
After Little Pete was lost the 467th BG received another Thunderbolt designated for formation assembly monitoring duties. Named Little Pete 2 the aircraft was primarily flown by Col. Shower and Lt. Col. Mahoney. Unlike the first Little Pete this aircraft was still a thoroughbred fighter as it retained armament and a gunsight.
39November 3, 2024P-47D-11-RE #42-75614 Little Angel, a Thunderbolt which was stationed at Molesworth, assigned to the 303rd BG Headquarters from June 1944.
Initially in original camouflage in which it was sent to the 303rd BG (including its predecessor’s markings, the 486th FS / 352nd FG - PZ●Z), and from the autumn of 1944 had a bare metal with an individual letter R and full set of 303rd BG markings.
40November 3, 2024P-47D-11-RE #42-75614 Little Angel, same plane with paint removed.
41November 3, 2024P-47D-6-RE #42-74680 of the 486th BG. Sudbury, March 1945.
42November 3, 2024P-47D-1-RE #42-7865, formation monitor of the 44th BG. Shipdham, December 1944.
43November 3, 2024P-47D-5-RE #42-???? Little Honsie II, formation monitor of the 491st BG. North Pickenham, January 1945.
44November 3, 2024P-47C-2-RE #41-6271 Rat Racer, a formation monitor of the 490th Bomb Group. Eye, spring of 1945.
45November 3, 2024P-47D-5-RE #42-8567 The Snoop, assigned to the 41st CBW at Molesworth.
The machine was used by the 303rd BG Headquarters as a formation monitor from July 1944 to May 1945. Initially in Olive Drab / Neutral Grey camouflage, in which it was delivered to the unit, it was stripped of paint with paint (except the anti-glare panel) during the autumn of 1944.
46November 3, 2024P-47D-?-RE #42-????, probably the formation monitor of the 93rd BG. Hardwick, September 1944.
From the information given it is known that the 93rd BG used a P-47 as the formation monitor. However, it was impossible to find its serial number. We believe that a picture of the 93rd Group’s Liberators taken at Orléans in September 1944, shows that aircraft.
47November 3, 2024P-47C-5-RE #41-6380, formation monitor of the 448th BG at Seething.
Sometime in the summer of 1944 the 448th BG received a Thunderbolt for formation monitoring duties.
48November 3, 2024P-47D-23-RA #42-27790 Little Pete, the formation monitor of the 467th BG. Rackheath, summer of 1944.
Little Pete was assigned as the formation monitor to the Headquarters of the 467th BG. It was lost in a mid-air collision during a practice mission in August 1944 while flown by Lt. Col. Walter R. Smith, Group Operations Officer.
49November 3, 2024P-47 D-10-RE #42-75151 MX*L, 1st Combat Bombardment Wing’s formation monitor.
Initially with the 78th Fighter Group (82nd FS) and later transferred to 1st CBW Headquarter
Flight.
50November 3, 2024P-47D-25-RE #42-26560 Ginny, formation monitor of the 458th BG, Horsham St. Faith, spring of 1945.
51November 3, 2024P-47D-15-RE #42-75621 at the time when it was transferred as the formation monitor to the 306th BG at Thurleigh.
The previous user of this Thunderbolt was the 62nd FS/ 56th FG, where, until half way through January 1944 it was the personal machine of Maj. David Schilling, Deputy CO of the 56th FG. The machine ended its fighter career with 56th FG on 3rd February 1944, when its pilot, Lt John Fields, carried out a forced landing at Lyons Farm, Bulcamp after exhausting his fuel towards the end of a mission. After renovation, the aircraft was given a war-weary status, and allocated to second-line duties. Additionally, the aircraft’s armament and gunsight were removed. The foundation’s ‘Hewlett – Woodmere Long Island’ and Schilling’s personal emblem on the engine cowling, Hairless Joe, remained.
52November 3, 2024P-47C-5-RE #41-???? The Old Man, formation monitor of the 446th BG. Bungay, August 1944.
Just like any other bomb group the 446th BG had their own disarmed Thunderbolt that was used as the formation monitor.
Kommentit
51 20 October 2024, 10:45
Scale Knight kirjailijaBe patient please. New pictures will be added almost daily. I have an offline life too! And THANK YOU ALL for your encouraging feedback.
21 October 2024, 17:50
Łukasz GlińskiWhat a cool collection! Hats off, that's a lot of huge planes 👍
23 October 2024, 19:35
William JoelI have to agree with the other comments; this is a great collection. The details of each aircraft provided just enough history to keep me reading each photo. Thanks for sharing.
30 October 2024, 20:54
Scale Knight kirjailijaThank you all once again for your kind comments. We are looking for a new home for this special collection, preferably a museum with a connection to WW2 military history or aviation history. We are already in contact with a small number of museums in the UK but talks are at a very early stage. This would be a straight donation with no strings attached an we would arrange delivery within Europe including the UK but we would need sponsorship for a transport to the US. Any networking connections are more than welcome.
31 October 2024, 22:43
NeulingAmazing collection of top models with interesting stories behind. Thanks for showing/telling!
1 November 2024, 10:19
Gary VictoryWhat a collection. They must look really impressive all together.
Have you reached out to
IWM Duxford - iwm.org.uk/visits/iwm-duxford
Thorpe Abbotts - 100bgmus.org.uk/
They might be able to help in some way to house the collection.
All the best.
1 November 2024, 10:39
Scale Knight kirjailijaThank you very much. We'll reach out to them in the next few weeks.
2 November 2024, 22:23
Album info
UPLOAD IN PROGRESS - ALL AIRCRAFT WILL BE FEATURED
B-24 1/72 scale kits from Hasegawa and Minicraft/Academy were used as well as reissues by Eduard and Italeri. The "Spotted Ass Ape" was made from the venerable Airfix kit. Not sure about the B-17s but we'll find out. All P-47s were Academy.
Hardly any kits or decals of the Assembly Ships were available at the time. Therefore, much was handpainted, decals self-printed and a lot of scratchbuilt conversions had to be made to represent the many field modifications.
Assembly Ships of the Mighty Eighth by Jacek Jackiewicz (Author), Robert Bock (Author), 1. Januar 2007 ISBN-10 : 8392491416 / ISBN-13 : 978-8392491415 was a major reference for this unique project that took seven people 9 years to finish (mostly due to other projects realized at the same time).