B-26C-15 S/N 41-34938 "Big Ass Bird"
created January 30, 2002
FSDS Model created by W. E. Stephens and Textures by W. E. Stephens, Ph. D.
Panel by Rob Clark
Pilot figures by
for CFS2 and FS2002

"Big Ass Bird" was from the 12th Air Force, 319th Bomb Group 438 Bomb Squadron based in Rufisque French West Africa in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. She flew 145 missions between June 1943 and November 1944 in North Africa, Italy and southern France and was the fastest plane in the group. Her first crew was led by Lt. T. C. Rammelkamp but was flown by other crews including Lt. Lawrence E. Stephens. She was shot up badly on her 55th mission and again on her 59th, but remained a lucky ship. Her crew chief was J. Wesley Johnston for her first 120 missions.

This aircraft is a memorial to my father Col. Lawrence E. Stephens, USAF, ret. who served his country for 30 years and passed away on June 26, 2000. After WWII he was assigned to the USAF Strategic Air Command in Omaha, NE. In the course of this military career, he was the Base Commander at Glasgow AFB, Glasgow, Montana and the Wing Commander at Anderson AFB on Guam. He retired in 1970 from March ARB, in Riverside, CA.

The B-26C-15 was built in Omaha, Nebraska in 1941.
Dimensions
Span: 71 ft. 0 in.
Length 56 ft. 1 in.
Height 20 ft. 4 in.
Wing Area, 658 sq. ft.
Performance: Max speed 282 mph at 10,000ft.
Service ceiling: 21,700ft
Combat ragne, 1150 miles

No commercial rights are granted. Permission to repaint is granted.

Many thanks to Rob Clark for the use of his spectacular B-26B panel.

DISCLAIMER & COPYRIGHT

The accompanying files should not harm your computer in any way but, if you believe they have, I accept no liability. The files are released as "freeware" and are not to be re-distributed in exchange for any payment, fee or other value.