Flak Bait was a B-26 Marauder aircraft that holds the record within the United States Army Air Forces for number of bombing missions survived during World War II. A B-26B manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland, by Martin, this aircraft was completed in April, 1943. It was christened Flak Bait by one of the pilots, James J. Farrell, who adapted the nickname of a family dog, "Flea Bait". Flak Bait was assigned to the 449th Bombardment Squadron, 322d Bombardment Group stationed in England.
During the course of its 202 (some sources say 207 ) bombing missions over Germany as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, Flak Bait lived up to its name by being shot with over 1000 holes, returned twice on one engine and once with an engine on fire, lost its electrical system once and its hydraulic system twice, and participated in bombing missions in support of D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge.
Flak Bait returned to the United States in December 1946. The front portion of the fuselage is currently on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.
Famous quotes containing the words flak and/or bait:
“I woke to black flak and the nightmare fighters.
When I died they washed me out of the turret with a hose.”
—Randall Jarrell (1914–1965)
“By one bait or another, Nature allures inhabitants into all her recesses.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)