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Old 10th July 2023, 12:16
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B-29 with P-51 insignia

This is 482 / 505 on Tinian April 1945, K333 in the foreground is 42-24802 (K Triangle 2) with a black cat and "13" in recognition of the 13th Battn. Seabees ( 6th. NC Brigade) who built the 4 runways for the 313rd. Wing at N. Field and had a cat emblem as in the patch here....


blackcat13 by Nicholas King, on Flickr


13th-seabees by Nicholas King, on Flickr


But the cat on K333 is the insignia of 308 / 31 "Spittin' Kittens" who were flying P-51s from Italy at the time. Must have been quite unusual ? The right side had "The Purple Shaft", arrow and a very small cat and "13" marked on in transit on Hawaii; she survived the war after 36 missions.
Other B-29s in the 482BS with Seabees dedications were 42-65257 "30th CB Regiment", 42-24809 "67th Seabees" and one marked "6th. CB Brigade".
The 6th. Brigade also built West Field on Tinian for the 58th. Wing.
Nick
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