Aircraft
The 456th Bomb Group flew the venerable Consolidated B-24 Liberator on missions during World War II. With its arguably odd-looking high mounted Davis wing, twin tail and cigar-shaped body, it could carry more load, faster, higher and farther than the famed B-17 Flying Fortress (until later in the war when the added weight of armor and guns made them about even). The 456th Bomb Group shared the same "diamond" tail marking as the rest of the aircraft in the 304th Bombardment Wing, but with the lower half of the rudders painted red. Early in 1944 when the aircraft were painted overall an olive drab color, the diamond was white; later, when aircraft were delivered in an all-natural aluminum color, the diamond was black.
B-24G, 42-78435, "Buzz Job", 455th BG / 741st BS, pilot Capt. Bill R. Adams. The hydraulic system had failed due to flak hits over Budapest where the Weiss Motoren Werke was bombed. The brakes did not work and the parachutes were used for braking. Easy to see why the Liberator was nicknamed "The Flying Boxcar." This photo was earlier mistakenly identified as a 456th aircraft.
In formation, on the way to the target. In the foreground B-24G-16-NT, 42-78418, (418), 456th BG / 744th BS. This aircraft crashed and burned December 19, 1944 from unknown cause on a Hill Side near Deir Corvi, Italy while on a Mission to Graz, Austria. All (10) crewmembers were killed. Aircraft destroyed by fire.
Click on the above image for a large, detailed view of the B-24, courtesy of FLYING Magazine and Bob Reichard.
"Miss Conduct (Target for Tonight)"
"O'Reilly's Datter"
"Phoney Express II" Painted by Joe Niess, 745th Squadron. See also here.
"Joker" artwork originally painted by Bob Mace and James Williams.
"Miss Your Lovin'"
"Miss Your Lovin'"
The actual nose art still intact years later. This was found on an auction site but the original resides at the American Airpower Heritage Museum in Midland, Texas.
Forthabirds, 42-95313, 747th BS
Flying Flivver, 42-52345
Phoney Express II, 42-78403, 745th BS
The Lady Corinne, 44-40485, 747th BS
Short Snorter, 44-40878, 744th BS
Duchess, 44-41108, 747th BS