Seeking info on "Hustlin' Hussy", 453rd BG

[Arclight88]

Looking for any info on a B-24 which flew with the 453 BG named Hustlin Hussy. Aircraft commander was named 1LT/Captain Cripps. Based on the photo date, the aircraft survived at least as late as April 1945.

[wellss]

42-51096 ( B-24H-20-DT )
734th bomb squadron

Apparently transferred to 704th BS / 446th BG after April 10, 1945, where it never flew any missions and was returned to the USA

http://www.b24bestweb.com/hustlinhussy-v1-2.htm
http://www.aviationmuseum.net/aircraft_of_the_446.htm

Another site says it ditched in the english channel
All escaped to life rafts, nose gunner died before rescue

http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/aprils...64/planes.html

No date or details are given however. I suspect it might be incorrect as I was unable to find a Cripps or a ditching in the history found here,

http://www.453rd.com/books/Liberator_Men_Of_Old_Buc.pdf

[Arclight88]

What a treat to see the pilots' side of the nose; 50 missions! Forty odd years ago when I was a kid and interested in the 8th AF (12 o"clock High TV show days) my neighbor, now deceased, gave me a photograph of this crew with their names penned in on the back. The photo is dated 4 APR 45 and identifies them as the 453BG-381, 734 (BS?). So this would jive with the transfer info and not the splashing in the Channel info.

Thanks for shining some light on an old old photo! Mike