A close-up shot of the business end "bird-cage" of one of the early model D Liberators assigned to the 90th Bombardment Group. This photo was taken at Iron Range, just prior the Group's first combat mission.

After month's of training and preparation there was much excitement for the mission, scheduled for departure on the late evening of 15th November 1942, their target an enemy convoy near Bougainville. Instead of reward there was disaster however, as recorded in the diary of radio operator, Nello F. Palumbo, "The night of our scheduled first mission. We were supposed to be second to take off. We didn't take off on scheduled [sic] due to left bomb bay door that wouldn't close due to bomb bay tanks. The worst disaster I've ever seen. During take off of a 400th Squadron ship knocked off our right pitot tube and astrodome, crashed into nose of next two B-24s parked on side, runs into trees catches on fire and two bombs exploded completely damaging a B-17. Captain R.S Holt miraculously escaped from the 400th ship. 11 men killed".

In the confusion of a night-time departure with poor lighting from the dusty Australian outback field, the culprit 400th Squadron ship, Bombs to Nippon, had collided with three others including Big Emma, Connell's Special and unnamed #41-23812. It was a huge blow which would set back the Group's morale for months.

OUR HERITAGE      SERVICES      PRODUCTS      HISTORICAL     HOME     CONTACT US   LINKS