B-25J-11, 43-36204, 345th BG, 500th BS, November 1944
Grand Slam was lost due to a 1000lb bomb becoming hung up in the bomb bay on a mission on February 15, 1945. Pilot 1st Lt. Joseph Herick ordered the crew to bail out and the aircraft was subsequently shot down by P-47s.
Of note is the early-version of the 345th’s Air Apache insignia, and the full serial number being painted in 2 inch numerals below it. At this point the 500th BS had discontinued painting red cowl rings, and no crew names or mission markings were painted on the aircraft.
Finally, there is an early version of the rear-facing camera field-modification seen on many of the unit’s B-25s. In this case, the fairing forward of the camera is not of the more common round cross section, but rather made up of three flat sides (square cross section). The camera used was a Bell & Howell Eyemo in a custom mount.
Click the gallery thumbnail below for a larger view.
