20th Army Air Force 

HQ : MARIANAS

Order: Strategic bombing against Japan

  Version: 2006_11_27: 57 pics

 

 

 

XX Bomber Command

 

 

 

1st Photo Squadron (Detachment C)
-
-
-

 

 

 

58th Bomb Wing
 Chakulia, Kharagpur, Hijli A/B & West Field, Tinain

 

 

 

40th Bomb Group
 Chakulia, India, Hsingching, China, & West Field, Tinian
25th Bomb Squadron 44th Bomb Squadron 45th Bomb Squadron 395th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, West Field
-
#10 'Genie'		 - -
 
#42 'Sky Queen'		    

 

 

 

Triangle N
44th Bomb Group
 Dudkhuadi, India, Kwanghan, China, & West Field, Tinian
676th Bomb Squadron 677th Bomb Squadron 678th Bomb Squadron 679th Bomb Squadron
19454  -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, West Field

# 30		 - - (deactivated 10/44)

 

 

 

Triangle U
462nd Bomb Group
 Piardpba, India, Kiunglai, China & West Field, Tinian
768th Bomb Squadron 769th Bomb Squadron 770th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, West Field
- - -

 

 

 

Triangle I
466th Bomb Group
 Piardpba, India, Kiunglai, China & West Field, Tinian
792nd Bomb Squadron 793rd Bomb Squadron 794th Bomb Squadron 795th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, West Field
- - (made up of deactivated 795th) (deactivated 10/44)

 

 

 

?
468th Bomb Group
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, West Field

B-29-1-BW (42-6242) 'Esso Express'
Chinese-Burmese area, 1944
'BELLE RINGER'
Saipan ?

 

 

 

XXI Bomber Command

 

 

 

3rd Photo Recon Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Saipan, Isley Field

F-13A 'Double Exposure'
This plane was used for photographing of bomber raids on Tokyo.
Converted from B-29-50-BW

 

 

 

73rd Bomb Wing
Saipan, Isley Field

 

 

 

Square A
497th Bomb Group
869th Bomb Squadron 870th Bomb Squadron 871st Bomb Squadron 65th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Saipan, Isley Field
- - - -

 

 

 

Square T
498th Bomb Group
873rd Bomb Squadron 874th Bomb Squadron 875th Bomb Squadron 94th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Saipan, Isley Field
-
# 22 'Bedroom Eyes'		 - (deactivated 10/44)

 

 

 

Square V
499th Bomb Group
877th Bomb Squadron 878th Bomb Squadron 879th Bomb Squadron 303rd Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Saipan, Isley Field
- - - -

 

 

 

Square Z
500th Bomb Group
881st Bomb Squadron 882d Bomb Squadron 883rd Bomb Squadron 330th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Saipan, Isley Field
- -
# 52 'The Ancient Mariner'		 -

 

 

 

313th Bomb Wing
Tinian, North Field

 

 

 

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Circle R
6th Bomb Group
24th Bomb Squadron 39th Bomb Squadron 40th Bomb Squadron 72nd Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, North Field

#55 'Rattle N' Roll'		 - - -

 

 

 

 Circle X
9th Bomb Group
1st Bomb Squadron 5th Bomb Squadron 99th Bomb Squadron 77th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, North Field

#2 		- - -

#4 'Big Time Operator'		      

 

 

 

Circle E
504th Bomb Group
398th Bomb Squadron 421st Bomb Squadron 680th Bomb Squadron 358th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, North Field
-
# 29		 - -

 

 

 

Circle E
505th Bomb Group
482th Bomb Squadron 483th Bomb Squadron 484th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, North Field
- - -

 

 

 

Circle Arrow
509th Composite Group
 Composite and had no squadrons
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Tinian, North Field
-
# 77 'Bockscar'
 Dropped the second atomic bomb (Fat Man) over Nagasaki on 9th August 1945.
Note: Fake unit markings for this mission !
# 82 'Enola Gay'
Crew CO Colonel Paul Tibbets.
Dropped A-bomb to Hiroshima, August, 6 1945
Note: Fake unit markings for this mission !

 

 

 

314th Bomb Wing
Guam, North Field

 

 

 

Square M
19th Bomb Group
28th Bomb Squadron 30th Bomb Squadron 93rd Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, North Field
- - -

 

 

 

Square O
29th Bomb Group
6th Bomb Squadron 43rd Bomb Squadron 52nd Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, North Field
- - -

 

 

 

Square P
39th Bomb Group
60th Bomb Squadron 61st Bomb Squadron 62nd Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, North Field
- - -

 

 

 

Square K
330th Bomb Group
457th Bomb Squadron 458th Bomb Squadron 459th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, North Field
- - -

 

 

 

315th Bomb Wing
Guam, Northwest Field

 

 

 

Diamond B
16th Bomb Group
15th Bomb Squadron 16th Bomb Squadron 17th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, Northwest Field
- - -

 

 

 

Diamond L
331st Bomb Group
355th Bomb Squadron 356th Bomb Squadron 357th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, Northwest Field
- - -

 

 

 

Diamond Y
501st Bomb Group
21st Bomb Squadron 41st Bomb Squadron 485th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, Northwest Field
- - -

 

 

 

Diamond A
479th Bomb Group
?nd Bomb Squadron ?th Bomb Squadron ?th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, Northwest Field
-
# 21 'Thumper'		 -

 

 

 

Diamond H
502st Bomb Group
402nd Bomb Squadron 411th Bomb Squadron 430th Bomb Squadron
1945   -   Boeing B-29 Superfortress   -   Guam, Northwest Field
- - -

 

 

 

Fighter Command

 

 

 

363rd Tactical Fighter Wing
(Fighter Support from 7th AF)

 

 

 

15th Fighter Group
Flew first B-29 Escort Mission on April 7th, 1945 & was assigned to the 20th AAF summer, 1945

45th Fighter Squadron

47th Fighter Squadron

78th Fighter Squadron
# 51 - # 99 # 150 - # 199 # 100 - # 149
1944   -   Republic P-47C THUNDERBOLT
- -
# 143 (42-27693) 'Pee Wee'
1945   -   North American P-51D MUSTANG   -   Iwo Jima, South Field

# 56 (44-63465)
-
# 150 (44-63822) 'Lil Butch'
-
# 101 (44-63984) 'Margaret IV'
Major James B. "Jim" Tapp

# 76 (44-63474) 'Stinger VII'
Captain Robert W. 'Todd' Moore		 - -

# 86 (44-63474) 'Foxy'
-		 - -

 

 

 

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21st Fighter Group
Flew first B-29 Escort Mission on April 7th, 1945 & was assigned to 20th AAF Summer, 1945

?

46th Fighter Squadron

?

72nd Fighter Squadron

531st Fighter Squadron
# 200 - # 249 # 250 - # 299 # 300 - # 349
1945   -   North American P-51D-20-NA MUSTANG   -   Iwo Jima, South Field

# 210 (44-63532) ''Little Angel the 104''
Pilot ?
# 253
Pilot ?
# 300 (44-73623) ''My Ach'in''
Major Harry C. Crim
-
# 256 (44-63975)
Pilot ?
# 307 (44-72662)
Pilot ?
- -
# 327 (44-63311)
Pilot ?

 

 

 

318th Fighter Group

19th Fighter Squadron

73rd Fighter Squadron

333rd Fighter Squadron
1944   -   Republic P-47D-20-RA THUNDERBOLT   -   Saipan, Marianas Islands

(C) (43-25429) ''Miss Mary Lou''
Major H.McAfee		 - -

(E) (43-26327) ''BIG Squaw''
John H. Payne Jr.		 - -
1945   -   Republic P-47N-25-RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Saipan, Marianas Islands

# 04 (44-87911) ''Drink'n Sister''
Captain John E. Voight
# 37 (44-87946) ''Little Joe''
Lt. Joe Cecci
# 21 (44-88043)
''Too Big and Too Heavy'' /''Short Shorter''

# 19 ''Biiter''
-		 - -
1945   -   Republic P-47N-25-RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands

# 44 (44-87784)
Why (H6+J) ??
# 84 (44-87916) ''Kay-N-Tucky''
-
# 02 ''Icky and Me''
John H. Payne, Jr.
- -
# 86 'Mad Russian'
-
# 21 (44-88043)
''Too Big and Too Heavy'' /''Short Shorter''
-
# 93 ''Sack Happy''
Lt. Robert Redfield, July		 -

 

 

 

301st Fighter Wing
(true 20th AF)

 

 

 

?

413th Fighter Group

?

1st Fighter Squadron

?

21st Fighter Squadron

?

24th Fighter Squadron

1945   -   Republic P-47N-25-RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands
-
BR
-		 -

1945   -   Republic P-47N-25-RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Okinawa
-
DHS (44-88689)
Captain Don Stuck		 -

 

 

 

?

414th Fighter Group
This Group was formed near the end of the World War II and equipped with the new, long range P-47N Thunderbolt.
It flew only three missions before the war ended.
The group was credited with a single kill, a Japanese Dinah shot down by a CAP-Flight of the 456th FS.

413th Fighter Squadron

437th Fighter Squadron

456th Fighter Squadron
# 650 - # 699 # 700 - # 749 # 750 - # 799

1945, July - end of war   -   Republic P-47N-5RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Iwo Jima
  -
# 754 (44-88689) ''Pris n' Prissy''
Either colour or number is wrong here??

1945, July - end of war   -   Republic P-47N-5RE THUNDERBOLT   -   Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands
 
# 710 (44-88366) ''Baby Dumpling''
Captain James Butler
# 774 (44-88391) ''Gerry''
Lt E. H. Mac Eachron, August
-
# 713  (44-88707)''Lady Leota''
-		 -

 

 

 

?

506th Fighter Group
The 506th Fighter Group flew VLR missions to Japan from North Field on Iwo Jima between April 1945 and the end of the war.
Flew first B-29 Escort Mission on May 18th, 1945 & was Assigned to the 20th AAF in April of 1945

457th Fighter Squadron

458th Fighter Squadron

462nd Fighter Squadron
# 500 - # 549 # 550 - # 599 # 600 - # 649

1945, February   -   North American P-51D-20-NA MUSTANG   -   Tinian
The planes, with no markings, left the US in February 1945 aboard a CVS, USS Kalinen Bay,
and were off-loaded at Guam, then flown to Tinian, where they waited for the Seabees on Iwo Jima to prepare their base at North Field.
While on Tinian the maintenance crews began painting the Mustangs.
red diagonal stripes insignia blue diagonal stripes yellow diagonal stripes
- -
# 527 (44-72518) ''Dinny B.''
Lt. Willie Willis
The 457th and 462nd crews decided it was too time-consuming to paint stripes,
so they changed the schemes to solid red and solid yellow for their squadrons.
Most of the 458th planes remained striped, but a few got solid blue tails.
solid red insignia blue diagonal stripes / solid blue solid yellow

# 527 (44-63983) ''HEL-ETER''
-
# 551 (44-72579) ''Delta Queen''
Captain J.B. Baker		 -

# 538 (44-63983)
Captain John Wesley Long Benbow		 - -

# 540 (44-72854) ''KWITCHERBITCHIN''
Lt. Charles Veitenheimer
Lt. Chester Jatczak		 - -
After the 457th pilots had a chance to fly a few CAP missions over Tinian in the red-tailed planes,
they became concerned that the B-29's that they were to escort over Japan might mistake the red tail as a Japanese meatball,
so they asked for another color. The 457th FS planes were then repainted with solid green tails, and that is what they had on Iwo Jima.

1945, April   -   North American P-51D-20NA/-25NA MUSTANG   -  North Field, Airfield #3, Iwo Jima
solid green insignia blue diagonal stripes / solid blue solid yellow

# 538 (44-63983)
Captain John Wesley Long Benbow
# 599 (44-72870) ''Anything Goes''
Captain Pete Nowick
# 628 (44-72622) ''Anything Goes''
Lt. Ed Linfante

 

 

 

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507th Fighter Group

?

463rd Fighter Squadron

?

464th Fighter Squadron

?

465th Fighter Squadron

1945   -   Republic P-47N THUNDERBOLT   -   Ie Shima, Ryukyu Islands

-# 107 (44-88313) ''Shell Pusher''
-		 - -

# 119 (44-63983) ''Chautauqua''
Lt. Schmidt		 -
# 144 'Duck Butt'
-		 -

# 126 ''Expected Goose''
 -
# 146 ''Lil Meatie's Meat Chopper''
1st Lt. Oscar Perdomo		 -

# 127 (44-63983)
-		 - -

 

 

 

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