Consolidated B-24D-30-CO Liberator s/n 42-40127 “First Sergeant” assembly ship of the of 458th Bomb Group. England April 1944
Liberator, serial number 42-40127, initially named “Thar She Blows Again,” served with the 93rd Bomb Group in the 8th Air Force, participating in the Ploesti mission. Severely damaged, it was repaired and returned to the European Theater of Operations with a new crew and the name “Bucket of Bolts.” After further combat with the 338th Bomb Squadron, the aircraft was deemed battle-worn and reassigned as an assembly plane for the 458th Bomb Group at Horsham St Faith, receiving the name “First Sergeant.”
Originally, the bomber was painted with a white forward fuselage and olive drab rear section, with all-white wings. Its distinctive “Thar She Blows Again” scoreboard was retained. To enhance visibility, a complex camouflage scheme was applied involving closely spaced red and blue polka dots on the white forward fuselage, transitioning to red and yellow dots on the olive drab rear. The wings were covered in red and blue polka dots. The aircraft displayed a large white “K” (458th Bomb Group) and a smaller “Kz” (indicating a “Zebra” assembly aircraft) on its tail. Tragically, on May 27, 1944, the plane was destroyed by fire on the ground while preparing for a mission, with the crew escaping unharmed. The fire was accidentally caused by the radio operator’s flare gun.