Which aircraft logged the.....

[(G/C) Lionel Mandrake]

Fate: Survived the war Scrapped 8 January 1947

F******* pen pushing bureaucrats..

 

[DaveB.inVa]

The most I know of was a B-26B named "Flak Bait" with 202 missions. The nose section of this aircraft is owned by the Smithsonian and now is probably located in their new Udvar-Hazy museum at Dulles.

http://flak-bait.com/

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Screw authority!





I only say this because I outrank everyone on this page at this point...

Not anymore matey



The IL2 had 36,000+ built, perhaps thats in for contention?

I said up to that point!

 

[Lightning Guy]

I've heard of a few B-17s that topped the century mark I am fairly certain Flak Bait holds the records for the USAAF during the war.

 

[evangilder]

Good catch, Dave! According to the NASM site:
The NASM B-26B-25-MA nicknamed Flak Bait (AAF serial number 41-31173) survived 207 operational missions over Europe, more than any other American aircraft during World War II (A de Havilland Mosquito B. Mk. IX bomber completed 213 missions but this aircraft was destroyed in a crash at Calgary Airport in Canada, two days after V-E Day, see NASM D. H. 98 Mosquito). Workers at the Baltimore factory completed Flak Bait in April 1943 and a crew flew it to England. The AAF assigned it to the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322nd Bombardment Group (nicknamed the 'Annihilators'), and gave the bomber the fuselage identification codes "PN-O." Lt. James J. Farrell of Greenwich, Connecticut, flew more missions in Flak Bait than any other pilot. He named the bomber after Flea Bait, his brother's nickname for the family dog.

This Marauder earned its nickname after just a few missions. Other bombers returned unscathed but Flak Bait invariably returned full of holes. "It was hit plenty of times, hit all the time," recalls Farrell. "I guess it was hit more than any other plane in the group.

So there is your answer, Lionel. I was meticulous with my questions to clarify what it was you were looking for. Now you have your answer. 8)

BTW, I am really a Colonel in the CAF.

 

[(G/C) Lionel Mandrake]

Thanks for the input gents. To be honest, i did kinda know..It's just some time back i'd pick up some info (as you do) that claimed the B-26 did more missions. I just wanted some clarification. Btw, 'good on' the crew 'Flak Bait '. 8)

BTW, I am really a Colonel in the CAF.

Thanks for letting me know. My respects to you sir.

 

[evangilder]

No worries. The way I see it, any airplane that goes beyond 100 missions is really defying the odds, that is during wartime. But especially a bomber over Europe. Between fighters and flak, your chances of making it back weren't the greatest. You had a better chance of survival as a Marine in any theater than an air crew member is Europe.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but 139 for a lanc is extremely impressive!!

 

[Gnomey]

Here's a B-26 nicknamed "Flak Bait" with 200 sorties. There is a site here with more information.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

nice pic........................

 

[cheddar cheese]

200...fuck me...put that in yer lanc and drop it

 

[Lightning Guy]

The B-26 did prove to be a remarkably safe bomber by the end of the war.

 

[cheddar cheese]

You mean B-25? Yes it did. It was a very good plane and effective in its role.

 

[Lightning Guy]

No, I meant the B-26. But the end of the war it had the lowest loss rate of any American bomber.

 

[cheddar cheese]

Oh sorry that was my bad. I read the initial photo as it being the B-25, I thought it looked a little strange

I thought the B-26 was a little late in the war to achieve that number or sorties?

 

[(G/C) Lionel Mandrake]

No, I meant the B-26. But the end of the war it had the lowest loss rate of any American bomber.

When you first read that line, you think wow, impressive. But is it? Did the B-26 do deep penetration raids in to Germany like the B-17 or B-24......I don't know, but comments like that need to be put in perspective.

 

[evangilder]

I don't think deep penetration raids into Germany proves an aircrafts worthiness or durability. Any time you fly into bad guy territory, it's dangerous, period. The B-26 was a medium bomber, so it would not necessarily be the best for a mission deep into Germany because it had a smaller bomb-load. It's primary role was close tactical ground support, which in some instance was more dangerous than high altitude bombing missions.

If flew with the 9th AF in Europe, also in the Mediterranean and the Pacific by both the USAAF and the RAF. When used in the Pacific, they attacked the Japanese installations at LAE without fighter escort. 84 sorties were flown, losing only 3 Marauders.

 

[Lightning Guy]

The B-26s flew an aweful lot of sorties. And they were seeing action very shortly after the American entry into the war. As an example, 4 USAAF B-26s took part in the defense of Midway (though admittidly with very poor results).

 

[evangilder]

The flights to the Lae area were in April-July of 1942. They flew unescorted and were often faced with Zeroes. They fared pretty well. They also started flying in North Africa in December of 1942, just after Operation Torch. So they were involved not too long after America entered the war for the USAAF.

The RAF started using the in October of 1942, mainly for reconnaissance during the battle of El Alamein, followed by anti-shipping sweeps and bombing enemy installations.

 

[(G/C) Lionel Mandrake]

I don't think deep penetration raids into Germany proves an aircrafts worthiness or durability. Any time you fly into bad guy territory, it's dangerous, period.

That's my point. Usaaf raids over France were uncontested by the Luftwaffe...Over Germany a total different ball game...Btw, that's why the term 'milk run' was coined.