Despite the risque nose-art, this Liberator had a comparatively quiet career compared to her predecessor, the first Liberty Belle.

The first Belle was forced-landed on 10th October 1944 in a swampy area on Batudaka Island, north of Sulawesi in what is know today as the country of Indonesia, but during WW2 was referred to as the Dutch East Indies. Her pilot that day was 1/Lt J. C. Tafaro and her crew of ten were unharmed and subsequently rescued by PBY. For the record, the first Belle was B-24J-80-CO serial # 42-100206.

To honour the first Liberty Belle, Tafaro's crew named their replacement accordingly after parting with substantial funds to impose the immodest nose-art you see above. Notice that the lady, a blonde, is leaning backwards on a bell. Given the name, this seems appropriate.

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