The Consolidated B-24H “Darling Darlene” belonged to the 826th. Bombardment Squadron, 484th. Bombardment Group, 49th. Bombardment Wing, 15th. Air Force. The bomber carried the serial number 42-52633. The nose art was painted by Joseph Dickman. Legible crew names include LT W.D. Rowland (navigator) and LT J.J. Petrie (co-pilot). The position behind the co-pilot was the radio operator/top turret gunner. The bomber was one of the original assigned to the 826th. BS and her crew chief was James Jones, Jr. The bomber was flown to Torretto Field on March 20, 1944. The airfield opened on February 1944 and was located a little under 9 miles from the Italian town of Cerignola. It would serve as the base of operations for the 484th. BG. The 826th. BS conducted long range bombing missions into Italy, France, Austria, Germany, Czechoslovakia, and Hungary, striking Axis infrastructure and military targets.
While on a mission on June 9, 1944, “Darling Darlene” suffered combat damage while over Munich, Germany which caused one engine to fail. The bomber put down at Vis Air Base on the Croatian island of Vis. Repairs were effected there and the bomber would return to Torretto Field. “Darling Darlene” would survive the war, returning to the U.S. on May 29, 1945. Torretto Field would be shut down and abandoned on August 1945, the land returned to agricultural use.
The 826th. BS would shift roles in May 1945 when it came under the control of Air Transport Command, the B-24s used as ferries for personnel and cargo transport. In July 1945, the 826th. was stood down.
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