44-40458

44-40458 Picadilly Tilly

B-24J-165-CO

44-40456 had white stars, so this plane probably did as well.

See photo of nose art in Helton’s Hellcats, p.71.

A 493BG Original, assigned to the 861st Squadron, letter unknown.

Any combat missions with the 493BG are not known to me.

Transferred to the 34BG between June 7th and July 6th 1944, assigned to the 391st Squadron as L/O

Suffered a landing accident at Mendlesham on May 29, 1944 piloted by Tavasti.

Was also at Mendlesham on June 25th and July 2nd.

MISSION LIST

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40458 L/O 391BS Meyer Picadilly Tilly

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40458 E/J 7BS Smith, J. C. Picadilly Tilly

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 44-40458 E/J Brown Picadilly Tilly

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #37 July 18, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #38 July 19, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 18BS Harris, R. Picadilly Tilly

Mission #39 July 20, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #41 July 24, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 391BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #42 July 25, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 391BS Marsden Picadilly Tilly

Mission #44 July 27, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #45 July 28, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #46 July 29, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #47 July 31, 1944 44-40458 D/Q Vande Guchte Picadilly Tilly (Airborne spare)

Mission #48 August 1, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Palmer Picadilly Tilly

Mission #49 August 2, 1944 44-40458 D/Q Bice Picadilly Tilly (Airborne spare)

Mission #50 August 3, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 18BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #51 August 4, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #52 August 5, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #53 August 6, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 7BS Harris Picadilly Tilly

Mission #55 August 8, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #57 August 11, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Ames Picadilly Tilly

Mission #58 August 13, 1944 44-40458 D/Q Vande Guche Picadilly Tilly (Airborne spare – bombed Target #1)

Mission #59 August 14, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Palmer Picadilly Tilly

Mission #60 August 15, 1944 44-40458 D/Q Vande Guchte Picadilly Tilly (Airborne spare)

Mission #61 August 16, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Simpson Picadilly Tilly

Mission #63 August 24, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Transferred to MTO, 485BG

MISSION DETAILS

May 29, 1944 44-40458 Tavasti

Landing accident, damage level 3 out of 5.

Tavasti, Roy E. (P)

June 25, 1944 44-40458 Erwin Picadilly Tilly

Took off at 1815 hours on a local flight.

Landed 1830 hours.

July 2, 1944 44-40458 (pilot not named) Picadilly Tilly

Landed at 1725 hours coming back from Honnington.

Mission #30 July 6, 1944 44-40458 L/O 391BS Meyer Picadilly Tilly

Mission #32 July 8, 1944 44-40458 E/J 7BS Smith, J. C. Picadilly Tilly (Aborted at coast – Navigator’s oxygen out)

Mission #33 July 9, 1944 44-40458 E/J Brown Picadilly Tilly

Mission #36 July 17, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

July 17, 1944 44-40458 D/Q Howard

Took off at 1832 hours.

Landed 2102 hours.

Mission #37 July 18, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #38 July 19, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 18BS Harris, R. Picadilly Tilly

Pilot’s and Navigator’s air speed indicator to be calibrated. #3 & #4 superchargers slow; co-pilot’s mike button out at altitude.

Auto-pilot interferes with manual operation when master switch is on. Inspected and repaired.

Mission #39 July 20, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Mission #40 July 21, 1944 44-40458 D/Q 4BS Bice Picadilly Tilly

Bank & turn indicator erratic. Inspected and repaired.