Flak-Bait

Last updated
Flak-Bait
322d Bomb Group B-26 Marauder 41-31773.jpg
Flak-Bait at Andrews Field, England, 1944
Type Martin B-26 Marauder
Manufacturer Glenn L. Martin Company
Serial41-31773
Radio codePN-O
First flightApril 1943
Owners and operators United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
In serviceApril 1943 to December 1946
FateMuseum display
Preserved atUnder preservation at Smithsonian Institution's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Virginia.

Flak-Bait is a Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft that holds the record within the United States Army Air Forces for the number of bombing missions survived during World War II. Manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland as a B-26B-25-MA, by Martin, it was completed in April 1943, accepted by the United States Army Air Forces, and christened Flak-Bait by its first assigned pilot, James J. Farrell, who adapted the nickname of a family dog, "Flea Bait". Flak-Bait was assigned to the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322d Bombardment Group stationed in eastern England. [1] [2]

Contents

During the course of its 202 (207 including its five decoy missions [2] ) bombing missions over Germany as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, Flak-Bait lived up to its name by being shot with over 1,000 holes, returned twice on one engine (once with the disabled engine on fire), lost its electrical system once and its hydraulic system twice. Despite the level of damage it received, none of Flak-Bait's crew were killed during the war and only one was injured. Over two years of operations Flak Bait accumulated 725 hours of combat time and participating in bombing missions in support of the Normandy Landings, the Battle of the Bulge, and Operation Crossbow against V-1 flying bomb sites. [1] [2] [3]

A series of red-colored bombs are painted on the side of the aircraft, each representing an individual mission (202 bombs in total). White tails painted on the bombs represented every fifth mission. There is one black-colored bomb which represents a night mission. In addition to the bombs, there are also six red ducks painted on the aircraft representing decoy missions. There is also a detailed Nazi Swastika painted above a bomb to represent Flak-Bait's only confirmed kill against a German aircraft. [4]

On March 18, 1946, Major John Egan and Captain Norman Schloesser flew Flak-Bait for the last time, to an air depot at Oberpfaffenhofen, Bavaria. There, the famed bomber was disassembled, crated, and shipped in December 1946 to a Douglas Aircraft factory in Park Ridge, Illinois. [5]

Restoration

Martin B-26B 'Flak-Bait' fuselage at NASM (NASM2014-02561) Martin B-26B 'Flak-Bait' fuselage at NASM (NASM2014-02561).jpg
Martin B-26B 'Flak-Bait' fuselage at NASM (NASM2014-02561)
A closeup photo from May 19, 2021 FlakBait Restoration.jpg
A closeup photo from May 19, 2021

When the National Air and Space Museum opened in Washington, D.C., in 1976, the nose section of Flak-Bait was placed on display there, with the remainder of the aircraft in storage at the Paul E. Garber Preservation, Restoration, and Storage Facility in Silver Hill, Maryland. In 2014, all parts of Flak-Bait were moved to the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia, for a comprehensive restoration and reassembly, which is still ongoing as of late 2023. [6] [7]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Enola Gay</i> US Army Air Forces Boeing B-29 airplane that dropped the first atomic bomb

The Enola Gay is a Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, named after Enola Gay Tibbets, the mother of the pilot, Colonel Paul Tibbets. On 6 August 1945, during the final stages of World War II, it became the first aircraft to drop an atomic bomb in warfare. The bomb, code-named "Little Boy", was targeted at the city of Hiroshima, Japan, and caused the destruction of about three quarters of the city. Enola Gay participated in the second nuclear attack as the weather reconnaissance aircraft for the primary target of Kokura. Clouds and drifting smoke resulted in Nagasaki, a secondary target, being bombed instead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin B-26 Marauder</span> US medium bomber with 2 piston engines, 1940

The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas A-26 Invader</span> 1941 attack/bomber aircraft family by Douglas

The Douglas A-26 Invader is an American twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft. Built by Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Kimbolton</span>

Royal Air Force Kimbolton or more simply RAF Kimbolton is a former Royal Air Force station located 8 miles (13 km) west of Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Snetterton Heath</span>

Royal Air Force Snetterton Heath or more simply RAF Snetterton Heath is a former Royal Air Force station located south east of the A11, 6 miles (9.7 km) south west of Attleborough, Norfolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Rattlesden</span>

Royal Air Force Rattlesden or more simply RAF Rattlesden is a former Royal Air Force station located 9 miles (14 km) south east of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Boxted</span> Airport in Boxted, Essex

Royal Air Force Boxted or more simply RAF Boxted is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) north-northeast of Colchester, Essex England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">RAF Andrews Field</span> Air Force field in Essex, England 1942–1945

Royal Air Force Andrews Field or more simply RAF Andrews Field is a former Royal Air Force station located 4 miles (6.4 km) east-northeast of Great Dunmow Essex, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">322d Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 322d Air Expeditionary Group is a provisional United States Air Force unit assigned to the United States Air Forces in Europe. As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">387th Air Expeditionary Group</span> Military unit

The 387th Air Expeditionary Group(387 AEG) is a provisional United States Air Force direct reporting unit at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait under United States Air Forces Central Command (USAFCENT). As a provisional unit, it may be activated or inactivated at any time. In 2016, the groups mission was to provide support for base operations, coordination with host nation partners, and administration of the Joint Expeditionary Tasked individual augmentees in the United States Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of responsibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">22nd Operations Group</span> Military unit

The 22nd Operations Group is the operational flying component of the United States Air Force 22nd Air Refueling Wing. It is stationed at McConnell Air Force Base, Kansas, and is part of Air Mobility Command (AMC)'s Eighteenth Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">468th Bombardment Group</span> Military unit

The 468th Bombardment Group was a World War II United States Army Air Forces combat organization. The unit served primarily in the Pacific Ocean theater and China Burma India Theater of World War II as part of Twentieth Air Force. The 468th Bomb Group's aircraft engaged in very heavy bombardment Boeing B-29 Superfortress operations against Japan. After its reassignment to the Mariana Islands in 1945, its aircraft were identified by a "I" and a triangle painted on the tail. It was inactivated on 31 March 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">554th Fighter-Bomber Squadron</span> Military unit

The 554th Fighter-Bomber Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 386th Fighter-Bomber Group at Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana, where it was inactivated on 8 July 1957.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">552d Training Squadron</span> Military unit

The 552d Training Squadron is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the 552d Operations Group at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma. The squadron trains aircrew for airborne warning and control missions on the Boeing E-3 Sentry aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">75th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 75th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was first established as a bombardment squadron shortly before World War II. It was reactivated during the Cold War as a Strategic Air Command (SAC). Its last assignment was to the 4039th Strategic Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, New York, where it was made inactive on 1 February 1963.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">596th Bomb Squadron</span> Military unit

The 596th Bomb Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to the 2d Operations Group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, where it was inactivated on 1 October 1993, and its resources transferred to another unit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">599th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 599th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated at MacDill Field, Florida in April 1943. After training in the United States, it transferred to the European Theater of Operations, where it was a component of IX Bomber Command. The squadron served in combat from April 1944 until the end of World War II, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on Ediger-Eller, Germany, in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Following V-E Day the squadron remained in France until December 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Kilmer in December 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">597th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 597th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was activated at MacDill Field, Florida in April 1943. After training in the United States, it transferred to the European Theater of Operations, where it was a component of IX Bomber Command. The squadron served in combat from April 1944 until the end of World War II, earning a Distinguished Unit Citation for an attack on Ediger-Eller, Germany, in December 1944 during the Battle of the Bulge. Following V-E Day the squadron remained in France until December 1945, when it returned to the United States and was inactivated at Camp Shanks in January 1946.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">575th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 575th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was a World War II unit assigned to the 391st Bombardment Group. After training in the United States throughout 1943, the squadron moved to England, and from February 1944 participated in operations against Germany from there and the European Continent as part of IX Bomber Command. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation in October 1945.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">574th Bombardment Squadron</span> Military unit

The 574th Bombardment Squadron is an inactive United States Air Force unit. The squadron was a World War II unit assigned to the 391st Bombardment Group. After training in the United States, the squadron moved to England, and participated in operations against Germany from there and the European Continent as part of IX Bomber Command. It earned a Distinguished Unit Citation for its combat actions. Following V-E Day, the squadron returned to the United States and was inactivated at the port of embarkation.

References

  1. 1 2 Spenser, Jay P., "Flak Bait: Biography of an Intrepid Marauder," Airpower (vol. 8, no. 5, Sept. 1978), pp. 36–57.
  2. 1 2 3 Crosby, David (June 12, 2006). "B-26B Marauder: American Bomber in World War II". Historynet. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  3. ↑ "Martin B-26B-25-MA Marauder "Flak-Bait"". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 28 April 2015.
  4. ↑ "A Brief History of "Flak-Bait"". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  5. ↑ Jones, Tom (May 2015). "207 Flights, Hundreds of Holes". Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. ↑ Horelick, Lauren (April 28, 2020). "Preserving Flak-Bait: Reversing a 1970s Restoration". National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  7. ↑ Gromelski, Joe (January 24, 2020). "World War II bomber 'Flak-Bait' is being brought back to life at the Smithsonian". Stars and Stripes Magazine. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.