Allied aircraft photos

[Buckeye30]

Post 31. Both 500thBG Isely Field Saipan and both survived.
Z-12 44-69721 ( second Z-12, first was lost). She has the 36" black lead stripe which several Groups used; the large tail letters replaced previous designators for better visibility as ordered by HQ XX1BC 6 March 45.
Z-19 42-63435 (second) she was originally Z-3; named "Snafu Per Fort" a reference to her mechanical problems, later "Sharon Sue".


Nick

[edwest2]

Thanks Nick.

[edwest2]

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Photo album
https://www.ebay.com/itm/31703506733...Bk9SR9Dz3dD3ZQ

[Buckeye30]

Post 34.
Photo 1. 42-24823 "High 'eh Doc!" 505BG Tinian, Bugs Bunny with tommy gun on right side; on left side "Dangerous Lady" and "27th. NCB Special"--part of the Seabees 6th. Brigade which built the Tinian airfields. Was K triangle 25 then Circle W with green tail tip.
2. 42-24904 "Ramp Tramp II" ; with 462BG in India (Piadoba) with green rudder, letter and "3" for 770BS. To Tinian April 45, to go to 505BG (also on Tinian) but back to 462nd. as Triangle U-52 with the Group's red Rudder.
3. 42-24462 "Princess Eileen II", 444BG originally in India (Dudhkundi) with yellow number in dark blue diamond though some were white on black; has the 676BS emblem "Reluctant Dragon" . Moved to Tinian April 45 marked Triangle N--37. 30 "Hump" flights & 25 missions total.


All 3 returned USA.
Nick

[Buckeye30]

There are some well-known B-29s in the album, all 73rd. Wing on Saipan. They had some of the best nose-art courtesy of a Marine, Bud Sprenger.


"Dauntless Dottie" (pilot's wife) 42-24592 497BG ( A Square 1) led first B-29 raid on Tokyo 24 Nov. 44; the insignia is the 869BS, a "pug" carrying a bomb on a cloud.She crashed 6 June 45 taking off from Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshalls returning home.
"Thunderhead" 42-24641 497BG ( A Sq. 43) returned USA.
"Destiny's Tots" 42-65293 497BG ( A Sq. 49) returned. 5 babies on a wooden plane; mission symbols are diapers.
"Lady Mary Anna" 42-24625 498BG (T Sq. 24 then T-48; returned as War Weary 12 July 45.
"Jumbo II" 42-24855 497BG (A Sq. 50) reported as ditched 13 July 45 but possibly confused with 42-24858 which did.


The B-29 crews had great respect for their planes; usual warning on nose gear door was "No smoking within 100 feet" but "Joltin' Josie had " Clean your feet".


Nick

[edwest2]

Thanks again Nick.

[edwest2]

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[edwest2]

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[Buckeye30]

POST 39.
Photo 1. B-24D-160 42-72837 308BG (373BS) in China, with nose turret added at the Modification Centre; with the Group's sharkmouth and plane-in-squadron number 493 under serial. The 374BS triangle is painted out on the tail.
Photo 2. P-40N-1 ( the "lightweight" version with 4 guns and early canopy) 16FS / 51FG in China (probably Kunming) tail number 382 on dark green band, white spinner front; a "Felix" the cat emblem with catapult aiming at a Jap flag on the rudder.


Nick

[edwest2]

Thanks Nick.