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Old 2nd October 2016, 17:13
Hans Mcilveen Hans Mcilveen is offline
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Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Does anyone have details for this Boeing F-13 Supefortress of the 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron at Morotai April 1945? The crew was made up of Capt. F. Scheible, Lt. J.S. Williams, L.G. Roberts, and T/Sgt. M. Zitek. I am looking for the full serial, aircraft name, and hopefully images of this aircraft. Possible serials are 42-24870 or 42-93870.

Hans
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Old 3rd October 2016, 01:16
edwest2 edwest2 is online now
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Hello Hans,


If the tail number was 42-24870 then the MACR is 14481. I don't know how much you know about this aircraft aside from the crew and its base. I also suggest this book, which also includes post-World War II B-29 operations.

https://www.amazon.com/B-29-Superfor.../dp/0786417870




Usual disclaimer,
Ed
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Old 3rd October 2016, 02:33
Revi16 Revi16 is offline
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

42-24870 Delivered to USAAF 18Nov44. Modified to F-13. Assigned to 24th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group (6th BG) lost May 23, 1945 in Tokyo raid. MACR 14481



42-93870 Modified to F-13A; redesignated 1948 as RB-29A Assigned to 1505th Army Air Force Base Unit, Mather AAF, CA Crashed 21Dec44 due to engine failure during takeoff near Mather AAF, CA Assigned to 1st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Reconnaissance Wing Named ‘Valiant Lady’. Reclaimed
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Old 3rd October 2016, 02:51
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Thank you, Revi16. To the OP, go to this page, click on In Memoriam on the left side, then go down about halfway to Airplane #17. The tail number matches.


http://philcrowther.com/6bgmain.html





Ed
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Old 3rd October 2016, 17:36
Revi16 Revi16 is offline
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans Mcilveen View Post
Does anyone have details for this Boeing F-13 Supefortress of the 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron at Morotai April 1945? The crew was made up of Capt. F. Scheible, Lt. J.S. Williams, L.G. Roberts, and T/Sgt. M. Zitek. I am looking for the full serial, aircraft name, and hopefully images of this aircraft. Possible serials are 42-24870 or 42-93870.

Hans
How are you associating the crew names and aircraft serial number?

https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Imagi.....-a0286971013

"In April 1945, the 3d PRS dispatched a detachment of three aircraft and requisite personnel to Morotai Island to map the Netherlands East Indies for the Thirteenth Air Force. The F-13As ranged across Java, mapping the island and towns of Batavia and Soerabaja for a month before returning to Guam. The 3d PRS also expanded their repertoire over Japan, trying out different missions besides the standard daylight imagery profile they flew daily in and out. Six missions were flown in May and June to take films of Twentieth Air Force B-29 strikes over Japan, detailing bomber formations and damage from the attacks. Four night missions were also flown in April and May, shooting photos under the glare of photo flash bombs. Neither mission type appears to have caught on with the unit. (17) At the end of June, the squadron bid farewell to its commander of two years, Colonel McCarthy, who was succeeded by Maj. Robert Hutton, an experienced reconnaissance pilot."
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Old 3rd October 2016, 20:45
Hans Mcilveen Hans Mcilveen is offline
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Thank you both. I don't have a lot of experience with USAAF operational history or historical records. So that is why I asked here.

Ed, thank you for the MACR number and the link. I am leaning towards 42-93870 now.

Revi16, the crew names and the partial aircraft # are from a 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron mission report.
I have been able to identify the other two F-13s but the third one eludes me.

If you or anyone else can give a hint where to find this kind of detail in US historical records I would be most grateful.

Hans
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Old 3rd October 2016, 22:01
Revi16 Revi16 is offline
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

It looks like you've got the third one identified now, 42-93870 lost in May 45 with a different crew aboard.
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Old 4th October 2016, 03:17
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

This is getting interesting.


93870 Modified to F-13A; redesignated 1948 as RB-29A Assigned to 1505th Army Air Force Base Unit, Mather AAF, CA Crashed 21Dec44 due to engine failure during takeoff near Mather AAF, CA Assigned to 1st Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Reconnaissance Wing Named ‘Valiant Lady’. Reclaimed


Source: http//www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_5.html


Put a colon after the http
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Old 4th October 2016, 03:20
edwest2 edwest2 is online now
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Give AFHRA a try: http//www.afhra.af.mil/


Put a colon after the http




Ed
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Old 9th October 2016, 17:21
Hans Mcilveen Hans Mcilveen is offline
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Re: Identity of Boeing Suoerfortress F-13, aircraft #870

Actually the AFHRA is where I got the mission report from. The Morotai missions lack the detail other reports have though. I will try to get more information from that agency.

I found this page that shows five photographs of the three F-13s on Morotai. Although of low resolution, I Ithink the image attached may show 42-93870 (293870) in the background. I have contacted the contributor to ask him for a better copy of the photograph.

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