Assembly ship B-24H Liberator 41-28697 “SPOTTED ASS APE” England 1944
The sole assembly aircraft produced at the Douglas/Tulsa facility was the B-24 Liberator, serial number 41-20697. Initially named “Dixie Bell II,” this bomber saw limited combat action, completing only eight missions before being reassigned to the 458th Bomb Group as an assembly aircraft, replacing the previously destroyed “First Sergeant.”
Nicknamed “Spotted Ass Ape” or simply “Spotted Ape,” the aircraft underwent a distinctive paint job. Its forward fuselage and upper wings were adorned with a striking pattern of red and blue polka dots, complemented by a large, menacing shark mouth. Due to this unusual appearance, it was also referred to as “Wonder Bread.” The rear fuselage retained its olive drab color with a prominent red, white, and red disc replacing the national insignia, surrounded by small red lights. The twin tails displayed the 458th Bomb Group’s signature red-white-red stripes.
The aircraft’s service as an assembly plane was short-lived. It was written off after a landing gear collapse during a runway accident in March 1945.