F-7A Patched Up Piece - a photo on Flickriver

F-7A Patched Up Piece

            F-7A S/N 42-64047 of the 20th Combat Mapping Squadron, 6th Photo Recon Group, 5th Air Force.

F-7 was the designation for B-24 based reconnaissance aircraft.

Patched Up Piece flew 32 missions between 05 April 1944 and 02 September 1944. What happened to it after that I do not know. It is not listed among the unit's losses, so it was likely retired for some reason.

It was the first aircraft of the 20th CMS to leave the US towards New Guinea on 23 February 1944.

Together with on other aircraft, Patched Up Piece flew the squadron's first combat mission on 05 April 1944

On 14 August 1944 Patched Up Piece was the first aircraft to land on the then still unfinished airstrip on Middleburg Island. 

On a mission to Morotai Island the aircraft lost oil pressure and had to shut down both starboard engines. Middleburg Island was the closest US occupied landmass so a successful attempt was made to reach it. 

With flares the struggling aircraft signaled its approach, giving the engineers on the ground barely enough time to clear the runway of construction equipment. With 15 feet to spare Patched Up Piece came to a stop. 

The aircraft was serviced but departure back to base had to wait until 16 August, they had to wait until the runway was long enough for a safe take-off.

The entire event was captured on camera by a newsreel crew who was sent do Middleburg Island to capture the first scheduled landing on the Island, an honor planned to go to a General.

Artist of the nose art was Al G. Merkling of the 20th CMS.

Taken on: December 25, 2024

Tags:

B-24

F-7A

Bomber

photo

Recon

airplane

aircraft

plane

nose

art

20th

mapping

squadron

merkling

6th

group

world

war

two

ww2

Pacific

Theater

combat « less

Sets appears in: • 6th PRG 20th CMS F-7 Recon Planes Pacific Theater

Groups appears in: • FlickrCentral • Old Photos more » • Historic and Old Photos • WW II • Military Photo Pool • Old Photographs • WW2 • Antique Photographs • Found Photos • Bombers • United States Army Air Forces • Consolidated Aircraft • History Directory • Vintage Scans • The Aviation Museum • Images of World War Two • Military History • All Warbirds. • History Lovers • Vintage pics • Rare Historic Pics • i Like old Military Photographs • Passion for Old Photography • Sharing Old Photos • Glimpse into the past • Consolidated B-24/PB4Y-1/C-87 Liberators • 5 Million Aircraft Photos • Flickr Transport « less

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