Yuma YB-40 Numbers

[NickV]

From the images I've seen of the YB-40s that operated from Yuma, each aircraft had a large "U" on the tail with a two-digit number. The two-digit number did not correspond to the last two of the aircraft's serial number.

I'm wondering if anyone has a listing of the Yuma B-40 numbers, or can we put together enough Yuma YB-40 images to figure out some sort of numbering scheme?

I've added a shot of TB-40 42-5741 seen upon arrival at Cal-Aero Field for storage and final disposition -- scrapped.

Thanks for your help.
Nick

[NickV]

By hook and by crook I've been able to start a list of Yuma YB-40s and their "Yuma Number." So far, we have the following, listed by model, serial, Yuma Number, and the source of the number:

YB-40, 42-5740, U-91 • EBay load adjuster auction Aug. 12, 2016

TB-40, 42-5741, U-48 • photo at Cal-Aero Field (Emil Strasser photo courtesy Jerry Liang)

YB-40, 42-5743 Woolaroc, U-90 • photo crash report at Dateland, Ariz (courtesy Dave Trojan).

Progress is slow, but it is progress. If anyone has photos of the YB-40s at Yuma or other documents that make the serial/Yuma Number connection, I'd appreciate the information.

Thanks,
Nick

[Chris Brame]

Got a few more:
YB-40, 42-5833, U-43 (at Cal-Aero; frame from Chain Lightning, 1950)


YB-40, 42-5742/Plain Dealing Express, U-44 (at Cal-Aero; frame from The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946)


YB-40?, 42-????, U-95 (at Cal-Aero; frame from The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946)


Also, there's a chance YB-40 42-5736/Tampa Tornado may be U-47, but I don't have a clear enough image to be sure.

[NickV]

Chris,
Your reply is a huge help!

What I REALLY like about your still from The Best Years of Our Lives is the image showing U-95 with nice detail of the beefed-up tail gunner’s position.

I’ve updated the list:

YB-40, 42-5740, U-91 • Load adjuster auction Aug. 12, 2016.

TB-40, 42-5741, U-48 • photo at Cal-Aero Field (Emil Strasser photo courtesy Jerry Liang).

YB-40, 42-5743 Woolaroc, U-90 • photo crash report at Dateland, Ariz. (courtesy Dave Trojan).

YB-40, 42-5833, U-43, (at Cal-Aero, frame from Chain Lightning, 1950) courtesy Chris Brame.

YB-40, 42-5742, Plain Dealing Express, U-44 (at Cal-Aero; frame from The Best Years of Our Lives, 1946) courtesy Chris Brame.

Unconfirmed:
YB-40, 42-5736, Tampa Tornado, U-47
YB-40, serial unknown, U-95 (seen in The Best Years of Our Lives)

The significance of the list to date is that 10 YB-40s and 1 TB-40 were assigned to Yuma:
YB-40 42-5732
YB-40 42-5733 • U-43
YB-40 42-5734
YB-40 42-5736 (possibly U-47, Tampa Tornado)
YB-40 42-5738
YB-40 42-5739
YB-40 42-5740 • U-91
TB-40 42-5741 • U-48
YB-40 42-5742 • U-44 Plain Dealing Express
YB-40 42-5743 • U-90, Woolaroc
YB-40 42-5744

So we’re more than halfway to completing the list.

Thanks for your input.
Nick

[suzyQ194]

What happened to the XB-40 124341?
Does anyone have photographic evidence to prove staggerd waist windows and a chin turret with more than 2 .50 cals?
Thanks

[suzyQ194]

From Wikipedia:

YB-40s flew in the following operational missions:

29 May 1943 - attacked submarine pens and locks at Saint-Nazaire. Smaller strikes were made at Rennes naval depot and U-boat yards at La Pallice. In the attack, seven YB-40s were dispatched to Saint-Nazaire; they were unable to keep up with B-17s on their return from the target and modification of the waist and tail gun feeds and ammunition supplies was found to be needed. The YB-40s were sent to Technical Service Command at the Abbots Ripton 2nd Strategic Air Depot for modifications.
15 June 1943 - four YB-40s were dispatched from Alconbury in a raid on Le Mans after completion of additional modifications.
22 June 1943 - attack on the I.G. Farben Industrie Chemische Werke synthetic rubber plant at Hüls. The plant, representing a large percentage of the Germany's synthetic rubber producing capacity, was severely damaged. In the raid, 11 YB-40s were dispatched; aircraft 42-5735 was lost, being first damaged by flak and later shot down by Uffz. Bernhard Kunze in a Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-2 of JG 1 over Pont, Germany. The 10 crew members survived and were taken prisoner.
25 June 1943 - attack on Blohm & Voss sub shops at Oldenburg. This was the secondary target, as the primary at Hamburg was obscured by clouds. In this raid, seven YB-40s were dispatched, of which two aborted. Two German aircraft were claimed as destroyed.
26 June 1943 - scheduled but aborted participation in attack on the Luftwaffe air depot at Villacoublay, France (primary target) and also the Luftwaffe airfield at Poissy, France. The five YB-40s assigned to the attack were unable to form up with the bombing squadron, and returned to base.
28 June 1943 - attack on the U-boat pens at Saint-Nazaire. In the raid, the only serviceable lock entrance to the pens was destroyed. In this attack, six YB-40s were dispatched, and one German aircraft was claimed as destroyed.
29 June 1943 - scheduled participation in attack on the Luftwaffe air depot at Villacoublay, but aircraft returned to Alconbury due to clouds obscuring the target. In the raid, two YB-40s dispatched, one aborted.
4 July 1943 - attacks on aircraft factories at Nantes and Le Mans, France. In these raids, two YB-40s were dispatched to Nantes and one to Le Mans.
10 July 1943 - attack on Caen/Carpiquet airfield. In this raid, five YB-40s were dispatched.
14 July 1943 - attacked Luftwaffe air depot at Villacoublay. In this raid, five YB-40s were dispatched.
17 July 1943 - YB-40s recalled from a raid on Hannover due to bad weather. In this raid, two YB-40s were dispatched.
24 July 1943 - YB-40s recalled from an attack on Bergen, Norway due to cloud cover. In this raid, one YB-40 was dispatched.
28 July 1943 - attack on the Fieseler aircraft factory at Kassel. In this raid, two YB-40s were dispatched.
29 July 1943 - attack on U-boat yards at Kiel. In this raid, two YB-40s were dispatched.

[aerovin2]

You guys are good. It's nice to see such cooperative work on interesting stuff like this.

[JohnDell]

XB-40 124341 was interesting as it was modified in two different configurations. The original turtleback with the second turret tucked in and with the turret standing alone. The markings she carried were interesting too. In some photos you can see it has “U.S. ARMY” painted under the wings. Plus she had one of the nice Lockheed Vega George “McCraw cartoons on the rear fuselage. I’d still like to know what is going on in the circled areas in the photos below.

[Chris Brame]

Might as well add (in bold) the rest of the known plane names, per Dave Osborne:

YB-40 42-5732
YB-40 42-5733 • U-43 Peoria Prowler
YB-40 42-5734 Seymour Angel/Red Balloon/Old Ironsides
YB-40 42-5736 (possibly U-47, Tampa Tornado)
YB-40 42-5738 Boston Tea Party
YB-40 42-5739 Lufkin Ruffian
YB-40 42-5740 • U-91 Monticello
TB-40 42-5741 • U-48 Guardian Angel
YB-40 42-5742 • U-44 Plain Dealing Express
YB-40 42-5743 • U-90, Woolaroc
YB-40 42-5744 Dollie Madison

[jmkendall]

I hope you don't mind, not a YB-40, but I just found this on life, listed as something other than an aircraft. I found it doing a photographer search. And if you are researching Yuma aircraft in general I thought you might like this...if you don't already.

Joe

[NickV]

Joe,
Not a YB-40, but a nice addition to the thread. Thanks for posting!

As a side note, Dik Shepherd sent a photo confirming that YB-40 42-5736 is indeed U-47, Tampa Tornado.
Nick

[Phixer09]

42-5871 was also assigned to Yuma. Typically for the period, FY44 history is not recorded on the IARC. It was at Tulsa April 1943 then next reported with 3036 Base Unit at Yuma May 1945 and at RFC Ontario 15May45.

[terveurn]

42-5739 was U-94

Dave

[NickV]

Thanks, Dave for the update on U-94.

Here's the updated list incorporating all of the above input:

YB-40 42-5732 •
YB-40 42-5733 • U-43 Peoria Prowler
YB-40 42-5734 • Seymour Angel/Red Balloon/Old Ironsides
YB-40 42-5736 • U-47, Tampa Tornado
YB-40 42-5738 • Boston Tea Party
YB-40 42-5739 • U-94 Lufkin Ruffian
YB-40 42-5740 • U-91, Monticello
TB-40 42-5741 • U-48, Guardian Angel
YB-40 42-5742 • U-44, Plain Dealing Express
YB-40 42-5743 • U-90, Woolaroc
YB-40 42-5744 • Dollie Madison
YB-40 42-5871•

Thank you, gentlemen.
Nick

[Chris Brame]

Did a little research on Plain Dealing Express (I thought it had to do with the Cleveland Plain Dealer newspaper) and got some info - never heard of Plain Dealing, Louisiana before:


Looks like he named his first plane Carolyn after his sweetheart/future wife (but Osborne doesn't list any B-17s with that name):