B-29 with P-51 insignia

[Buckeye30]

The 2 badges are almost identical though the 13th NCB is simpler without the yellow star background and crown; the pilot in the photo, Dick Hurd had designed the 308th's (he was an artist) based on "Figaro", Geppetto's cat in the "Pinocchio" movie of 1940 but with some elaborations. It was commonly worn on their jackets in Italy in 1943.
The 13th was in the Aleutians before Tinian, at Dutch Harbour and Akutan for 12 months in 1942-43 and had a Native American design (very unofficial); they arrived on Tinian 24 Oct. 1944 and their Brigade "adopted" many B-29s mostly 313BW, 504 / 505 BGs. I found 22 of their designs on B-29s, 14 - 15 from the Wing. Their insignia on 42-24802 must have been put on after 21 Dec. ( Seabees records say 22nd) when she landed on Tinian, the first B-29 to arrive.
I think both may have seen the Figaro image in one of the magazines like "LIFE" which were circulating at the time but it's odd that they are so similar.



Nick