391st BOMB GROUP: Aircraft information for serial number: 41-31903
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Aircraft information for serial number: 41-31903
Taxi Squadron Serial Code Name Source Taxi Sheets
903-T1PFS41-31903IH-TThe Trail Blazer / Dragon Lady IVPaul Clouting

Aircraft history for serial number: 41-31903 (kindly provided by Paul Clouting).
Delivered by air from the Martin Baltimore plant to the Martin, Omaha (Modification Centre), Nebraska, from 2/6/43. Then went to Hunter Field, Savannah, Georgia (from 14/6/43). Then flown by Nashville, Tennessee (ATC Ferry), from 19/6/43, to Presque Isle, Maine (from 22/6/43), from where it was flown to the UK via the Northern Ferry Route. Next listed as UGLY A (Europe - 8th AF) from 21/6/43, and UGLY R (Europe - 8th AF) from 23/6/43. The first aircraft converted to carry "Oboe" on 25/1/44. Named "Trail Blazer", and later renamed as "Dragon Lady IV". Involved in a taxiing accident with 42-107579 at A-48 Bretigny, France on 22/10/44. The pilot was Capt. Matthew H T Ferguson. The aircraft which was damaged Cat.3 was repaired. Crashed and caught fire at A-48 Bretigny, France on 26/11/44. The aircraft was flying as pathfinder leading the 409th BG to target, and undershot the landing in darkness during the morning (0652 hours). The pilot 1st Lt. John H Dilig, and five of the seven man crew were killed when the aircraft caught fire and one of the 2 x 1,000 lb bombs on board exploded. The aircraft which is listed as suffering Cat.4 damage (which was actually completely destroyed), was salvaged on 29/11/44. The final entry on the aircraft record card lists, CON SAL NBD GLUE R on 29/11/44. Note, there is no mention on the aircraft record card that this aircraft was converted to a B-26B-30, and just refers to a B-26B-1 model.

Incident listing for serial number: 41-31903
Mission Source_id Description Serial
0A00099Accident Report, 41-31903. 26 Nov 194441-31903