History Of the Esso Express

42-6242

This aircraft was fondly mentioned in my father’s letters home as ‘His Baby’

What connection he had with this aircraft is unknown at this time.

 

Prior to departure from Smokey Hill AFB, Kansas

 

Esso Express under going maintenance in India.

 

Corgi Model Photo

 

Delivered to USAAF on 11/3/43 and assigned to the 468th Bomb Group at Smoky Hill. Departed Smoky Hill on 4/21/44 destination India. Tanker conversion in the CBI and flew 30 Hump Missions. Returned to United States on 11/24/44. Scrapped at Lowrey on 7/7/46 as surplus. Model B-29-1-BW.

 

The star, streamer and vertical stabilizer stripes were the same for the
whole 468th Bomb Group. The colors varied by squadron and were:

White for the 792nd BS;

Red for the 793rd BS;

Blue for the 794th BS;

Yellow for the 795th BS.

Also, below is the crew listing for the crew that was
assigned to it when it departed Salina for India:

Capt. Levi W. Goodrich, pilot
1st Lt. Richard J. Ham, co-pilot
1st Lt. Merle D. Jones, flight engineer
Capt Odilon Roy, Navigator-bombardier
1st Lt. Robert M. Snell,  bombardier-navigator
Tech Sgt. Robert L. Smith, Radio Operator
Sgt. John D. Dow, Central Fire Control
Sgt. Harold E. Mufford, right gunner
Sgt. William E. Wilson, left gunner
Sgt. Bernard K. Henson, tail gunner
Sgt. Troy L. Burleson, radar operator

Supposedly, under the name of "DUCES WILD" it departed Smokey Hills AFB,  Kansas for India and flew the first B-29 bomb mission to Bangkok on June 5, 1944. It was slightly damaged during this mission and the landing, and was sent to the repair depot, stripped and converted to a tanker for Hump Missions. It was then returned to the 795th in August of '44 under the new name "ESSO EXPRESS".  Here it was assigned a NEW crew, (whose names are unknown at this time), flew 30 hump missions, and then returned to the states. Available info says that Goodrich and his crew were given B-29 #42-6828 after turning over 242, which they named "Monsoon Goon".

--Jim Crosby

 

 

“Hi David, The only thing I can confirm is that 42-6242 was

Esso Express 794th SQ.. Arrived 5-15-1944 flew 30 Hump Missions as a tanker. Sent stateside 11-24-44 . Comments Good Job!

I can't find a loss from 794th in Mar. 1945.  I'll keep looking and if I find something else I'll send it along.   Have Fun, Lew.”

 

“P>S> 242 was assigned to Kelly Field as Fire Drill Practice. Arnold Noyes, one of the crew who flew it home said it wasn't worth donating to Iran. It had been stripped in the beginning to make it into a tanker.  Lew”

(Extract from an email from the late Lew Meeks)

 

 

“With respect to the number "242" referencing "ESSO EXPRESS", the information I have indicates that aircraft 42-6242, ESSO EXPRESS, was assigned to the 795th Bomb Squadron, was used heavily for training in Salina, KS, then flown to Kharagpur and converted to a fuel tanker for 30 hump trips to A-7 China, before returning to the States in Nov of '44. If the plane really was assigned to the 795th, it may not be the reference you are looking for. But, you probably should confirm my info
with Mr Schutte.”

Letter from Mr. Jim Crosby