Flak-Bait

Flak-Bait is the Martin B-26 Marauder aircraft which holds the record within the United States Army Air Forces for the number of bombing missions survived during World War II. Manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland, as a B-26B-25-MA, by Martin, it was completed in April 1943, accepted by the United States Army Air Forces, and christened Flak-Bait by its first assigned pilot, 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 eastern England.
During the course of its 202 (207 including its five decoy missions) bombing missions over Germany as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, Flak-Bait lived up to its name by being shot with over 1,000 holes, returned twice on one engine (once with the disabled engine on fire), and lost its electrical system once and its hydraulic system twice. Despite the level of damage it received, none of Flak-Bait's crew was killed during the war and only one was injured. Over two years of operations, Flak-Bait accumulated 725 hours of combat time and participating in bombing missions in support of the Normandy Landings, the Battle of the...