The Yankee Doodle Dandy was a B24D built by Consolidated in San Diego, CA. It was delivered to the US Army Air Force as B24D-30-CO Liberator SN 42-40077. She was assigned to the 5th Air Force, 90th Bombardment Group, 319th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Yankee Doodle Dandy" in white with the nose art on top of a hat with red and white stripes and stars above 3 falling bombs. The tail had the 90th Bombardment Group motif of a skull with crossed bombs. She flew at least 100 bombing missions in the Southwest Pacific Area as indicated by the 100 bomb markings in two rows on the left side of the nose.
On April 12, 1944 the Yankee Doodle Dandy took off from Nadzab Airfield on a bombing mission against Hollandia. She was separated from the 319th Bombardment Squadron and joined up with the 400th Bombardment Squadron formation. Over the target, she began to trail 2,000 yards behind the formation and was hit by anti-aircraft fire. She was also targeted by 3 Japanese fighters. Other B24s in formation observed the bomber being hit by gunfire, and appeared to have 2 engines knocked out. Damaged, the Yankee Doodle Dandy went into a flat spin and crashed with a large explosion.
Photo by Ron Trevino