Martin B-26 41-18285

Martin B-26B-10-MA Marauder, s/n 41-18285, "Lady Katy", 319th Bombardment Group, 417th Bombardment Squadron, Rufisque Airfield, Rifisque, French West Africa, June 1943

 

 

Nose art

Martin B-26, 41-34868

B-26C-10-MO, 41-34868, s/n 41-34868, "Zero-4", 437th Bomb Squadron, 319th Bomb Group, Corsica

 

 

Crew from left to right:

Capt. Richard C. Bushee - pilot
Capt. Robert S Whitten - bombadier
1Lt Blake H. Palmer - co-pilot
T/Sgt. Leo F. Walker - engineer/cerw chief/gunner
T/Sgt. Al J. Rosenblum - radio operator/gunner
T/Sgt. Charles A. Vannoy - tail gunner

 

 

This aircraft survived 146 missions, shot down 5 enemy aircraft and destroyed one surface ship

Republic P-47, 42-27910

P-47D-23-RA 42-27910, "Hun Hunter XIV", Lt. Col. Gilbert "Gil" O. Wymond, 65th Fighter Squadron, 57th Fighter Group, at Alto Air Base, Corsica

 

Here Lt. Col. William Wyler, director of the color documentary "Thunderbolt", gives direction to Lt. Col. Wymond and his Crew Chief. This documentary was shot by the 12th Army Air Force Combat Camera Unit.

 

Nose art, photo from a different time frame

 

 

 

Martin B-26, 41-31773

B-26B-25-MA, s/n 41-31773, "Flak Bait", 449th Bomb Squadron, 322nd Bomb Group, Belgium

 

Here we see the crew after the B-26 has come back from its 200th mission

From left to right, standing

Col. John S Samuel (322nd BG CO) - co-pilot

Capt. William G Fort - pilot

T/Sgt. William J Hess - tail gunner

sitting

1st Lt. William D Brearly - bombardier

T/Sgt. Cecil Fisher - radio operator/gunner

T/Sgt. Kenneth Locke - engineer/gunner

1st Lt. Arthur D Perkins

 

 

Crew Chief S/Sgt. Clair G. Goodrich receives congratulations from Squadron Commanding Officer Maj. John C. Ruse after the aircraft returned from its 200th mission

 

 

 

"Flak Bait" returns after its 200th mission

 

During the course of its service life of 202 missions, with bombing runs over France, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany, it was shot with over 1000 holes, twice returned with only one engine operating, once with an engine on fire and twice with the complete loss of its electrical and hydraulic systems. Its nose section is on display at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum



Lockheed P-38, 42-68004

P-38J-15-LO, s/n 42-68004, "Moonlight Cock-Tail!", 393rd Fighter Squardon, 367th Fighter Group, Juvincourt airfield (A-68), France, Decmber 11th 1944

Pilot: 1st Lt. Clark R. "Doc" Livingston

 

He had arrived as a replacement pilot in May 1944, surviving the Group's heavy losses between June and August to become a steady, dependable flight leader.

On Decmeber 23rd 1944 this aircraft was shot down by a Bf 109 of Jagdgeschwader 77 in the area of Gelsdorf-Euskirchen, Germany. At the time the pilot was Capt. James B. Fishburn (O-429934), this was his first mission.

Boeing B-29, 44-69736

B-29-60-BW, s/n 44-69736, "Look Homeward Angel", 39th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto, August 11th 1945

 

Nose art

 

The First B-29 to land on Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. It returning to its base on Guam, from a bombing mission over Japan, when it was forced to land on Bolo strip due to damage to engine #4. The engine was damaged by flak, which had cut the oil line and damaging the elevator and stabilizer. There also seemed to be less serious damage to engine #3.

 

It was the first B-29 to land on Bolo strip

 

 

Here maintenance men are seen replacing engine #3 on the aircraft. The crew was flown in to repair the plane with all possible speed.

Boeing B-29, 42-63561

B-29-30-BA, s/n 42-63561, "Ready Teddy" 5th Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, at the airfield on Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto

 

 

Consolidated B-24, 44-41466

 

B-24L-5-CO Liberator, s/n 44-41466,  "Bugs Bomby Jr." 42nd Bomb Squadron, 11th Bomb Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. 27 July 1945.

The crew poses in front of their plane just in from a raid over Togoshima Marshalling Yards, Kyushu, Japan

 

 

Nose art

Republic P-47, 44-88223

P-47N-1-RE, s/n 44-88223, "Dotty", 464th Fighter Squadron, 507th Fighter Group, Ie Shima, Ryukyu Retto.

 

Nose art



Boeing XC-105, 35-277

Boeing XC-105, s/n 35-277, "GRANDPAPPY", 20th Troop Carrier Squadron, Panama
Crew:
(l to R, standing) 1st Lt. Roland S. Sawdey (navigator); Capt. Stanley J. Young (pilot); Capt. Fred L. Trickey (co-pilot)
(l to r kneeling) T/Sgt. Nelson K. Russell (engineer); M/Sgt. John A. Oshman (engineer); M/Sgt. Laird N. Rosborough (radio operator)

 

 

Nose art

 

 

The Boeing XB-15 (Boeing model # 294) was a prototype heavy bomber designed in 1934. When it entered operation it was assigned to the 2nd Bombardment Group. The first mission for the aircraft was a relief operation following the January 24th 1939 earthquake in Chile. The XB-15 was still an armed bomber until the guns were removed in late 1940, at which time it was used to ferry lend-lease aircrews back home after they delivered their aircraft. On May 6th 1943 the aircraft was converted into a transport plane and redesignated XC-105. By this time the aircraft had transferred to the 20th Troop Carrier Squadron. It continued to operate as a transporter until it was retired on December 18th 1944 and finally scrapped in June 1945. 

 

Republic P-47, 44-88104

 

P-47N, s/n 44-88104, "Sherman Was Right", 19th Fighter Squadron, 318th Fighter Group, August 1945. Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto
The halftrack in the foreground appears to be an M3A1

 

 

Nose art

Douglas C-53, 42-6478

C-53, s/n 42-6478, "Scarlett O'Hara", in the United States

Pvt. James McCoughey

The C-53 was the troop transport version of the C-47

Boeing B-29, 42-6264

B-29-5-BW, s/n 42-6264, "O'Reilly's Daughter", 792nd Bomb Squadron, 468th Bomb Group, Liangsham, China

 

 

Nose art

 

The above and following series of photos were taken in Liangsham, China. The B-29, after making an emergency landing and dangerously low on fuel, this plane had to be refueled by pouring fuel from drums into 5 gallon cans then handing them up and pouring them directly into the tanks.

 

 

 

 



 

 

On August 20th 1944, "O'Reilly's Daughter" met its end. About 50 miles out from China the #2 engine started leaking oil and the engine started revving out of control, a fire then broke out in the engine, which was extinguished. The engine again started revving out of control and the order to bail out was given. Everyone in the tail bailed out. Nobody saw the tail gunner bail out or his chute open, but it is assumed he did bail. Up front the radar operator and the bombardier also bailed out. The remaining six crew stayed on hoping to get the plane to the shore. After reaching  the shore #3 engine started to run away. The rest of the crew bailed out at about 7,000 feet.

 

 

Crew:

Pilot: Lt. Col. William F. Savoie (s/n O-24115) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944

Co-pilot: 1st Lt. Raymond K. Lutz (s/n O-464590) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Navigator: Capt. Donald G. O'Brien (s/n O-426919) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Bombardier: Capt. Louis K. Wedel (s/n O-726095) - POW
RCM: 1st Lt. Robert C. Geyer (O-855161) - POW
Engineer: 1st Lt. Casimer F. Stelmach (O-738739) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Radar: T/Sgt. William A. Beckham (30403054) - POW
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Walter W. Alspaugh (s/n 35402887) - POW
Senior Gunner: S/Sgt. Ernest J. Brundage (s/n 31258095) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Left Gunner: S/Sgt. James P. Meehan (s/n 35309815) - POW
Right Gunner: S/Sgt. Granville L. Adams, Jr (s/n 33522614) - MIA possibly drowned
Tail Gunner: T/Sgt. Rolland B. Hefferman (s/n 6999780) - POW



Curtis P-40, s/n ???

 

P-40K "King Boogie", s/n ???, 75th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group, possibly Kunming airfield, China

 This P-40 was assigned to Capt. William D. "Beel" Grosvenor

He was officially credited with five confirmed aerial victories

 

 

In the above photo we see members of the 75th Fighter Squadron

(l to r standing) 1st Lt. Joseph H. Griffin (3 victories); 1st Lt. Mack A. Mitchell (3 victories); Capt John F. "Hamp" Hampshire, Jr (13 victories); Capt Hollis M. Blackstone (3 victories)

(l to r on plane) Maj. Edmund R. Goss (6 victories); Lt. Col. John R. Alison (5 victories); 1st Lt. Roger C. Pryor (5 victories)

 

This is the last photo of Capt. Hampshire,  he was killed in action on May 2nd 1943. Defending the city of Changsha against strafing Japanese fighters, he managed to shoot one down before he was badly wounded in the stomach. Belly-landing his ship in the Hsaing River, he was rescued by locals. Unfortunately he perished before adequate medical help could arrive.

North American P-51, 43-7060

North American P-51B-7-NA, 43-7060, "Tommy's Dad", Kenchow Air Base, China.

Pilot: Major John C. "Pappy" Herbst, commander of the 74th Fighter Squadron, 23rd Fighter Group

 

 

The same aircraft later in the war

 

The P-51B "Tommy's Dad," was named for his 11-year old son. Officially credited with eighteen confirmed aerial victories, the single Luftwaffe 'kill' was claimed while flying with the RCAF in the Mediterranean theater. Major Herbst was to be later killed in the crash of his P-80 Shooting Star at San Diego on July 4th, 1946



Boeing B-29, 42-24464

B-29, s/n 42-24464, "Flying Stud II",  376th Bomb Squadron, 444th Bomb Group. China 1944

 

 

 

The camels signify how many times it has flown over the "hump" Himalayas. Heart symbol is for being hit by flak. Returned to U.S. as War-Weary on 06/15/1945

 

Boeing B-29, 42-63393

 

 

 

B-29-10-BA, s/n 42-63393, "Rush Order", 768th Bomb Squadron, 462nd Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force, Piardoba Airfield, India

 

 

Nose art

 

 

According to 1st Lt. Clarence Myron Miller (s/n O-746595), Navigator-Bombadier on "Rush Order", the aircraft flew 33 missions and 6 hump missions



Republic P-47, 42-8544

P-47D-5-RE, s/n 42-8544, "Natalie", Meeks Field, Iceland, August 9th 1943

 

 

 

P-47D 42-8544 ended up in the hands of the 357th Fighter Squadron, 355th Fighter Group. Coded OS-R and carrying the nose art name "Moon," it was flown by group commander Lt. Col. John L. "Moon" Elder, who ended the war with eight confirmed aerial victories.

 

 

On June 17th 1944 the aircraft was in the hands of the 513th Fighter Bomber Squadron, 406th Fighter Bomber Group being flown by 2nd Lt. Cary L. Gray (s/n 0810355) when it was shot down 2 miles southeast of Cherbourg. He was last seen by 1st Lt. Rolland W. Funk, the flight leader, parachuting from his plane.

Republic P-47, 42-26088

Republic P-47D-22-RE, s/n 42-26088, "Frenchie", 33rd Fighter Squadron, Iceland, September 27th 1944

 

 

Nose art



Republic P-47, 42-26084

 

P-47D-22-RE, s/n 42-26084, "Sally", 33rd Fighter Squadron, Iceland, July 28th 1944

Pilot: Lt. Col. Clingerman