Built by North American Aviation near Kansas City, Kansas, she was delivered to the US Army Air Force as B25J-10-NC Serial Number 43-36030. Like many others, she was ferried overseas to Hickam Field HI, then across the Pacific to the South West Pacific Area. On October 5th, 1944 she was assigned to the 5th Air Force, 345th Bombardment Group "Air Apaches", 499th Bombardment Squadron which was named "Bat Outta Hell." The B25J was nicknamed "Sag Harbor Express" in an Old English font in white by assigned pilot 2nd Lt. Arthur Browngardt, after his hometown in Sag Harbor NY. The tail had "030" the last 3 digits of the serial number and below the circular "Air Apaches" motif.
On January 7th, 1945 Sag Harbor Express took off from Tacloban Airfield on the island of Leyte, on a low level bombing and strafing mission against Clark Field on Luzon. Over the target, she had to pull up to avoid an A-20 cross-cutting the formation and was hit by anti-aircraft fire in the right engine. Training smoke and losing altitude, the left wing hit the roof of Holy rosary Parish church in Angeles City, then crashed into the courtyard of the campus of Holy Angel Academy and exploded and caught fire. On impact both pilots were thrown clear of the bomber and landed 20 yards away strapped to their seats and knocked unconscious. The rest of the crew were killed in the crash. When she failed to return, Sag Harbor Express was officially declared Missing In Action.
Photo by Tim Sloan