#42-32106 was constructed by Boeing Airplane Company and was delivered to Cheyenne, Wyoming, on 24th January 1944. On the 13th March 1944 the aircraft was assigned to 711th Bomb Squadron of the 447th Bomb Group (Rattlesden), before transferring to Grafton Underwood on 24th March 1944 and being assigned to the 545th Bomb Squadron.

Originally named Worry Bird, the additional name of Voan appeared on the starboard side of the nose. Voan was the name of Col. Dale O. Smith's daughter.

Worry Bird/Voan participated in its first mission, Mission #83, with the 384th 3 days after its arrival on 27th March 1944, forming part of 94th Composite Combat Bombardment Wing during their attack on the Luftwaffe base at Tours & Chatres, France. Although conditions were CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited) a significant proportion of bombs dropped by the Composite Wing fell short of the target. 2nd Lt. George Irwin Poole Jr. was the pilot for the aircraft’s inaugural mission on what was his 21st mission overall, with the rest of his crew also having considerable experience.  During Mission #116 on 27th May 1944, one of the aircraft’s engines went out, forcing the crew of 2nd Lt. Richard Leroy Cranstown to discard the bomb load at 12.12 hours. #42-32106 would be manned by 2nd Lt. Cranstown’s crew again on Mission #121 on 31st May 1944, where the compliment of 384th aircraft were forced to searched for Targets of Opportunity due to the fact that both the primary (Colmar rail marshalling yards, France) and secondary target were concealed by poor weather and cloud cover, with the aircraft eventually attacking the rail marshalling yards at Roosendaal, Netherlands.

During Mission #146 on 25th June 1944, a raid on a railway bridge and embankment in Sens, France, #42-32106 was supposed to compose part of the 41^st Bombardment Wing’s high group, however it was unable to meet them and later joined and bombed with a 92nd Bombardment Group formation. Mission #153 on 7th July 1944 saw the aircraft abort its flight to the Messerschmitt Me-109 factory in Leipzig, Germany after take-off as it lost its group in heavy cloud, forcing it to return to Grafton Underwood.

Worry Bird/Voan participated in Mission #198 on 25th September 1944, a raid on railway marshalling yards in Frankfurt, Germany -  however, it failed to bomb because the crew of 2nd Lt. William Andrew Johnson were unable to see the wing leader drop its payload. Just one week later, on 28th September 1944, during Mission #201 and piloted by 2nd Lt. Richard Glen “Bud” Wismer, #42-32106 was forced to return early due to a mechanical failure having dumped its bombs in enemy territory with unknown effect. While piloted by 2nd Lt. William George Starr on Mission #228 on 23rd November 1944, the aircraft suffered the #4 engine failing caused by a broken cylinder exhaust stack, leading it to abort the mission and return to base. Mission #234 on 2nd December 1944 was also unsuccessful for the aircraft, with “personnel failure” within 2^nd Lt. Robert Miller Kinkead’s leading to the bombs not being dropped on their intended target according to the report of the lead bombardier - it is unsure what is meant by this however it is clear that some confusion on positioning led the crew to not release the bomb load due to fears of striking other aircraft. 2nd Lt. Calvin James “Pete” Peterson and his contingent crewed the aircraft for its century mission on Mission #263 on 1st February 1945, a raid on the railway marshalling yards in Mannheim, Germany, where it had originally been a flying spare before later joining the formation.

#42-32106 participated in Mission #300 on 30th March 1945, a raid on the submarine and warship yard at Bremen, but returned with casualties. Though it successfully bombed, Pilot 2nd Lt. Edwin George Nicolai Jr. and Waist Gunner Corporal Charles Edward Whitworth were wounded in the raid, while Tail Gunner Sgt. William R Peeler was killed in action. The rest of the crew returned unharmed.

Although Worry Bird/Voan conducted a training flight on 23rd April 1945, its final raid was Mission #313 on 17th April 1945 in an attack on railway marshalling yards in Dresden, Germany, and for some of the crew, such as pilot 2^nd Lt. Harkless G. Enns, this was also their final mission of the war.

Upon completing combat operations with the 384th, #42-32106 would be transferred with its group to Istres to partake in mapping duties, being renamed as Snuffy in the process. 31st October 1945 saw the century bomber salvaged.

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website (384thbombgroup.com) for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of the Group’s activities during World War 2.

Research courtesy of Charlie Saddington on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.