| Consolidated B-24H-15-CF Liberator serial number 41-29459 assigned to the 784th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, flew out of Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120, in Norfolk, United Kingdom. 41-29459 was built at the Consolidated factory in Fort Worth, Texas, in early 1943. The aircraft’s 1st combat mission was on May 11, 1944. The December 1942 issue of Esquire contained a pinup illustration “Miss Santa Claus” by Alberto Vargas. This was painted on both sides of 41-29459, with the name “Bonnie.” The B-24H had field modifications including apliqué armour, n armored canopy, and a glued 3-panel observation window 1st developed by the 44th Bomb Group that replaced the factory-installed flat panel. It also flew with the 700th Bomb Squadron. At the end of 1944, 41-29459 was declared war-weary. Shipped to Station 597, Langford Lodge, Northern Ireland, “Bonnie” and the Vargas pinup were painted over, and the aircraft refurbished. It may have been converted to a cargo carrier. | |
| Image Filename | wwii2183.jpg |
| Image Size | 779.55 KB |
| Image Dimensions | 4431 x 3162 |
| Photographer | |
| Photographer Title | |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | November 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | |
| State or Province | Norfolk |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Archive | Library of Congress |
| Record Number | LC-DIG-ppmsca-13551 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
Author of the World War II Multimedia Database