Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks Nick.

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Post #42.
B-25J , 38BG stripped down for transport / ferry duties to Australia, photo taken in PI 1945 (probably Luzon); replaced "Hardship" (ex-"Filthy Lil"). Unfortunately on unpainted B-25s or with camo removed serial was often not re-marked. Insignia is a bald eagle over a setting sun with the 4 squadron emlems added-- 71BS "Wolfpack", 405BS "Green Dragons", 822BS "Black Panthers", 823BS "Terrible Tigers". Pilot was usually William J. Smith.
They don't seem to have used letters or numbers but squadron colours were on tail top or bottom( white-green-yellow-blue).


Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks again Nick.

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

POST 45.
Photo 1. B-29 42-93846 (505BG Tinian) K- Tri. 4.
Photo 2. B-29 44-70070 (9BG Tinian) Circle X 16. Added a caricature Japanese.
Photo 3. B-29 42-94042 (6BG Tinian) L-Tri. 40 then Circle R/40. Crew originally flew "Forever Amber" damaged at Kobe June 5. Pirate insignia for previous service in the Caribbean.
Photo 4. B-29 44-70124 (6BG Tinian). Circle R 60.
Photo 5. B-29 42-94067 (9BG Tinian) X Tri. 35.
Photo 6. B-29 don't know her. Possibly re-named?
Photo 7. B-29 42-24917 (29BG Guam) ex.-330BG. Square O 50.
Photo8. B-24J 90BG "Jolly Rogers" ( named for c/o Col. Arthur H. Rogers, hence skull-crossbones) the crew member wears the unofficial insignia; all 4 squadrons had unofficial emblems, " Asterperious", "Moby Dicks", "Bombs away", "Black Pirates". This is the 320BS "Moby Dicks". Later had skull-crossbones on squadron colour tails.


All these B-29s survived.
Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks again Nick.

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

This is a B-24D-65 with nose turret added at a Modification Centre, originally to go to Thirteenth AF as an SB-24 radar "Snooper" but diverted to China and 308BG; lost on a flight from Suichwan to Chengkung near Kunming. 5 crew bailed and returned (MACR 10059).
374BS markings, yellow rudder and triangle and tail number 482. The "mouth" evidently based on a colour photo widely distributed and several Eighth AF B-24s copied this style. Mostly yellow.


Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Nick

You dont give any s/n but I assume you mean 42-40503 which went missing 26 Nov 1944?

I have very bad info regarding the rather elusive SB-24D. Ten were so modified in 1943.
I also know that some B-24J were mod to SB-24J

Some general info has been published but I have no list of all aircraft so modified.

Anything you can add?

Cheers
Stig

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-40822.html
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/44-41078.html
https://www.flickr.com/photos/peacel...bie/5732902816
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-63805.html
https://www.armyaircorpsmuseum.org/m...4-42-73446.cfm
42-40838 (868th BS, 13th AF) lost Jun 26, 1944 From Unknown Cause Over The Southwest Pacific Ocean While on a Radar Snooper Mission to Truk Atoll Micronesia. All (10) Crew Were Killed. MACR 7181.
Operated directly under auspices of 13th AF HQ, carrying out classified missions, and did not have a group assignment


https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-100271.html
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-100273.html
https://asisbiz.com/il2/B-24/307BG/p...h-site-01.html
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...bard-philbrick


If you type in SB-24 in the upper right Search box (Enhanced by Google) you will get quite a few hits for the SB-24 serial numbers.
https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/index.html

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks Revi
Appreciated!!
Cheers
Stig

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Don't know the total but couldn't have been many in the 2 squadrons; 63BS /43BG received 13 in Oct. 43 on N. Guinea and the 868BS was down to 12 with 13 crews in July 45 in the Phillipines (I think PFF by then).
STUDY 120 (p.200+) has the 868th formation but no mention of totals....


https://www.dafhistory.af.mil/Portal...090522-059.pdf


The SCR "A" radar in a B-24D / SB-24....
https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN.../Radar-p70.jpg


Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks again Nick.

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks Nick
Stig

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Hi Stig. You might like to make a note of these SBs from "b24bestweb".


42-100271 SB-24J (868) "Lady Jane"
42-40833 SB-24D (868) "Coral Princess"
42-73446 SB-24J (868) "Libby Raider"
42-40832 SB-24D (868) "Devil's Delight"
42-63805 SB-24D-1 (868) "Sergeant Stripes Forever!"
42-40838 SB-24D (868) "Madame Libby the Sea Ducer"
42-73396 SB-24J (868) "Ready Willing and Able"
44-41464 SB-24L (868) "Lady June II"
42-40836 SB-24D (868) "Miss Bubbles"
44-50397 SB-24M (868) "Hell's Belle"
44-42131 SB-24M (868) "The Worry Bird"
42-40822 SB-24D (868) "Bum's away!"
42-40819 SB-24D-1 (868) "Rude Nude"
44-50395 SB-24M (868) "395"
44-50780 SB-24M (868) "780"
44-42107 SB-24M (868) "107"
44-50308 SB-24M (868) "308"
44-40941 SB-24J (868) "941"
42-40815 SB-24D (868) "The Joker"
44-50972 SB-24M (868) ""972"
44-51584 SB-24M (868) "584"
44-41357 SB-24J (868) "Our Baby"
44-40899 SB-24J (868) "Lady Luck II"
44-40902 SB-24J (868) " Rough and Ready"
42-100268 SB-24J (868) "Sunsetter"
44-40942 SB-24J (868) "Wonder Gal"
42-100273 SB-24J (868)
44-41078 SB-24J (868)
42-40651 SB-24D (868) "Ramp Tramp"
.................................................. ..


42-40503 SB-24D-1 (308BG) "Jungle Pussy"
44-41290 SB-24J (307BG) "Gremlin's Delight"
44-40938 SB-24J (307BG) "Nana"
44-40934 SB-24J (307BG) "934"


There are a few others, full serial u/k.
Regards
Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

The original 13 B-24s in 63BS / 43BG (apparently on inventory as B-24Ds though with SCR night blind-bombing radar would presumably be SB-24Ds) were late Consolidated models, as the "Scott Project"; the Sqn. c/o in 1943. Hence named "Seahawks" with appropriate tail insignia. Serials were:
42-40896 "Art's Cart"
42-40 955 "At Ease"
42-41053 "Kentucky Virgin"
42-41058 "Lady Luck"
42-41050 "Mallet Head"
42-41051 "Pitti-Sing"
42-40904 "Queen of Hearts"
42-40475 "The Swan"
42-41049 "Who's next"
42-40686 "Liberty Belle"
42-40972, 42-41041, 42-41043.


Several in both squadrons were originally intended for the 1st. Search-Attack Group at Langley Field but the Navy took over these duties in Aug. 43 as an order of June 10 1943; " It is primarily the responsibility of the Army to provide long-range bombing forces---for operations from shore bases in defence of the Western Hemisphere and for appropriate operations in other theatres".
They were in Sea-search scheme, Neutral grey / white then re-painted OD / NG.


Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Thanks Nick!!
Cheers
Stig

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/20581493905...Bk9SR4rQiOTIZg
https://www.ebay.com/itm/36594950303...Bk9SR4zQiOTIZg
https://www.ebay.com/itm/37655741990...IAAeSwT45oyydh

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

POST 59.
Photo 1. B-24D (Mod.) 42-72785 "Sad Sack" 90BG ( from "Sad Sack" comic) originally a D-155-CO in OD / NG but stripped and jaws added, some remnants of paint left here. Red tail =320BS "Moby Dicks" with last 3 of serial as standard. Salvaged in Nov. 44.


Photo 2. C-54 (VC-54E) 44-9027 "BATAAN" used by Gen. MacArthur from April 45 replacing his B-17E; at Atsugi near Yokohama 30 Aug. 45 when he arrived to assume command of Allied Forces.


Regards
Nick

Re: Allied aircraft photos
 

Nick
Out of curiosity, since none of my second hand sources, mention MacArthur's C-54E as a VC-54E,
what is your source for that? The IARC?
Cheers
Stig