3 Bomb Group History in Preparation

[Larry Hickey]

Hello,

Our research team is in the process of finishing a massive, two-volume history of the 27th BG (original) and 3rd BG in the SWPA during WW II. This will include 72 highly accurate color profiles of the unit's a/c, spread over the two volumes. We've been working on this for nearly 20 years and have a massive amount of material, but I'm still looking for A-20 photos from 1944 and 1945 as possible subjects for color profiles. I'm still short on subjects for about a half dozen of the profiles during that period.

I'm also looking for close up photos of the plane artwork for THE HOT HORSE a 13/3 B-25D that force-landed at Dobodura after the famous Rabaul raid of 2.11.43. We badly need a good close-up view of the artwork (a cartoon "hot horse" in a bathtub) on this plane. I'm also looking for head on photos of the white skull nose on 13th Sq B-25s in late 1943, to the beginning of 1944, and photos of 13th SQ B-25s with a dark/light checkerboard (blue & white???) on the rear engine nacelles during the same period. If anyone can help with photos or info on any of these, I would greatly appreciate hearing from you. I'd be happy to trade photos with anyone who has material that I can use.

Thanks,

[Jugggo]

Hey Larry-

I found this site hopefully it will help you out good luck.

http://www.aerothentic.com/photos/Cr...crashindex.htm


Mike

[Larry Hickey]

Mike,

Thanx. I'm very familiar with Mike Claringbould's website. In fact, he was an Associate Author on our definitive 312th BG History, "Rampage of the Roarin' 20's." I appreciate your passing this along. If you locate anything further, I'd appreciate knowing about it.

Regards,

[Jugggo]

Well Larry you got me looking like crazy here is another lead, I am hoping you havent found this one yet lol Here is the site. It wont let me copy the pic to link it.


http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/usaaf/rabaul2nov43.htm

[Larry Hickey]

Mike,

Yes, I'm well familiar with Peter Dunn's excellent website, and we've interviewed Dick Walker extensively for the project. Bill Swain and Jack Heyn have also made important contributions, as has Curtis Payson. We've probably interviewed at least 2-300 3rd BG vets for the project, as is typical for one of our SWPA books. Keep looking, though, there's bound to be something out there on the internet that we've not discovered.

Regards,

[Jugggo]

LMAO damn you Larry I will get something one of these days. hehe Well if you want a harder challenge try doing research for VMF-222 ~Flying Deuces~ where I think there is only 4 pilots left out of the squad.

[Jan Gazda]

Mike,

thank you for posting link to this interesting web site about November 2 raid on Rabaul. A minor detail cought my attention: there is a small photograph of Allen Hill standing to a Lightning reportedly flown by him on this mission. However, Allen flew P-38 G-15 43-2211 on this mission while the plane on the picture is definitely some later model (probably it is P-38 J-10 42-67898 which he flew throughout January 1944)

Jan