42-52768 Leo

B-24H-15-FO

This plane had white stars.

See photo of noseart in Helton’s Hellcats, p.57.

See photo in Helton’s Hellcats, p.64.

MISSION LIST

Missions with the 486BG. Name was Leo (the first one)

486BG Mission #1 May 7, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #5 May 20, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #9 May 27, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #10 May 28, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger (Aborted?)

486BG Mission #13 May 31, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger (shown as 762 D/E but 762 was D/J, and it also flew this mission.)

Transferred to 34BG. Name remained Leo.

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-52768 E/K (scheduled for Hayes but replaced)

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52768 E/K (scheduled for Hayes but replaced)

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 42-52768 E/K 391BS Daniels

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-52768 E/K 7BS Hayes

MISSION DETAILS

Missions with the 486BG. Name was Leo (the first one)

486BG Mission #1 May 7, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #5 May 20, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #9 May 27, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger

486BG Mission #10 May 28, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger (Aborted?)

486BG Mission #13 May 31, 1944 42-52768 D/E Hillfinger (shown as 762 D/E but 762 was D/J, and it also flew this mission.)

Transferred to 34BG. Name remained Leo.

Mission #10 June 6, 1944 42-52768 E/K (scheduled for Hayes but replaced)

Mission #12 June 6, 1944 42-52768 E/K (scheduled for Hayes but replaced)

Mission #13 June 7, 1944 42-52768 E/K 391BS Daniels

Took off at 1711 hours.

Flew position 4-3 in High Squadron.

Carried 12 500 lb GP bombs. Dropped on the Secondary at 2040 hours from 19,000 feet.

Slight damage reported.

Landed 0613 hours on June 8th. Must have landed somewhere else first.

Daniels (P)

Bagus (CP)

Sawtell (N) (from crew #61)

Terry (B)

Coletta (R)

McLennon (E)

Wiley (G)

Iverson (G)

Brannon (G)

Bennett (G)

Mission #14 June 11, 1944 42-52768 E/K 7BS Hayes

Took off at 0447 hours.

Flew position 3-2 in High Squadron.

Carried 24 250 lb GP bombs. Brought back all bombs to base due to 10/10 cloud coverage of target.

No battle damage reported.

Landed 1032 hours.

Hayes (P)

Anderson (CP)

McPherson (B)

Bowers (R)

Gibbons (E)

Gray (G)

Rockey (G)

Duffelmier (G)

Bonshoff (G)

Transferred to 493BG. Name remained Leo.

September 25, 1945 Returned to the US.