5th U.S. Army Air Force HQ : PHILIPPINES Order: Patrol the south-west Pacific Ocean Version: 07-04-09 (D-M-Y) - 168 pics of planes on this site...;-) |
| V. USAAF Command |
| Boeing B-17E FLYING FORTRESS |
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| 1944, March - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Finschhafen, P-NG |
![]() P-47D-4-RA (42-22668) ''Fiery Ginger III'' Colonel Neel E. Kearby (348th FG) lost Mar 5, 1944, SW Pacific |
71st
Tactical Recon Group |
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First formed as the 71st Observation Group in August
1941, becomimg operational in October of that year 1941. The Group flew anti-submarine patrols off the west coast of the United States during December 1941 until January 1943. The Groups name was changed to the 71st Reconnaissance Group in April 1943 and then the 71st Tactical Reconnaissance Group in May 1944 and yet again to the 71st Reconnaissance Group in May 1945. |
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17th
Recon Squadron |
82nd
Recon Squadron |
110th
Recon Squadron |
?th
Bomb Squadron |
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The Group moved to the Southwest Pacific in late 1943 and was
assigned to 5th US Airforce. Based on New Guinea and Biak, they flew reconnaissance missions over New Guinea, New Britain, and the Admiralties to provide target and damage-assessment imagery, they also bombed and strafed Japanese installations, airfields and shipping. |
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| 1943, November - Dobudura, New Guinea | |||||||||||
| ? | Bell P-39Q AIRACOBRA | ? | ? | ||||||||
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![]() ''Little Sir Echo'' P-39Q (42-1144??) - |
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![]() ''Snooks 2nd'' / "Betty Lou 3rd" P-39Q-5-BE (42-19995) 2nd Lieutenant William A. Shomo (Medal of Honor winner) Abandoned at Tadji Dec 1944. Recovered by David Tallichet's team in 1972-73 and stored at Yesterday's Air Force until 1980. Donated to Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Serviceman's Park |
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| 1944, November - Philippines | |||||||||||
| With another moved, this time to the Philippines in Nov 1944, were they flew reconnaissance missions to provide information on Japanese troop movements, gun positions and supply routes. Also photographing airfields in Formosa and China and attacked enemy shipping off the Asiatic coast. | |||||||||||
| 1945 - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Binmaley, Philippines | |||||||||||
| North American B-25D MITCHELL | North American P-51D MUSTANG | ? | ? | ||||||||
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On 11 January 1945 Captain Shomo performed the feat that earned
him the Medal of Honor. While he and his wingman, Lt. Paul
Lipscomb, were heading north for the Japanese airfields at
Tuguegarao, Aparri, and Laoag, they saw several enemy planes
flying south at about 2,500 feet. Despite being obviously
outnumbered, they immediately pulled Immelmann turns and found
themselves behind 11 Ki-61 "Tonys" and 1 Ki-44 "Tojo" escorting a
G4M "Betty" bomber. On their first pass through the formation Shomo closed to less than 40 yards before opening fire. He shot down four Tonys, then came up under the bomber, firing into its belly. The bomber caught fire and began to lose altitude as its pilot attempted to crashland the plane. Two of the Tonys escorting the bomber stayed with it as it went down. Shomo pulled up in a tight vertical spiral to gain altitude while the Tojo turned to engage him. The Japanese fighter fired until it stalled and slipped into the clouds. The Betty exploded as it bellied in, and the two escorting Tonys broke away, staying low. Shomo made a second diving pass at the two Tonys and downed them both. In under six minutes, Bill Shomo had shot down seven enemy planes, becoming an "ace in one day." No other American pilot scored as many confirmed victories in a single mission. Meanwhile, his wingman shot down three of the remaining six planes. The surviving three Japanese planes fled the encounter. |
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![]() 66 P-51D-10-NA (F-6) (44-14841) Captain William A. Shomo lost Mar 5, 1945, SW Pacific |
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| 1945, February-April - Binmaley, Philippines | |||||||||||
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By 1 April 1945, Shomo had been promoted to major and was
awarded the Medal of Honor for leading an attack against heavy odds and destroying seven enemy aircraft. (Wikipedia) |
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![]() 66 "The Flying Undertaker" P-51D-20-NA (44-72505) Major William A. Shomo |
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| 1943(45?) - Luzon, Philippines | |||||||||||
![]() "Mitch the Witch" B-25D-25-NC (42-87293) Lt. Bill Goodrich Lingayen, Luzon in May 1945 Survived 190 missions in PTO believed scrapped in theatre after war's end. |
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| 1944, August - Ie Shima | |||||||||||
| After the Group moved again, this time to Ie Shima, they were used to attack transportation targets on Kyushu and fly over southern Japan to locate prisoner of war camps, to assess bomb damage and to obtain information on Japanese movements. | |||||||||||
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| With their last move to Japan in Oct 1945 the Group became non-operational in Febuary 1946. | |||||||||||
B-25 Mitchell
L-4 Grasshopper
L-5 Sentinel
P-40 Warhawk
P-39 Airacobra
P-38 Lightning
L-6 Grasshopper
17th Reconnaissance
25th Liaison
82nd Reconnaissance
102nd Reconnaissance
110th Reconnaissance
128th Reconnaissance
20th Combat Mapping Squadron |
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| 1945 - Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR | |
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| V. Fighter Command |
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3rd Air Commando Group |
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4th Fighter Squadron |
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1945 - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Philippines and Okinawa |
![]() C ''Bad Angel'' P-51D-20 (44-63272) Lt. Louis E Curdes |
![]() O ''Jumpin Jaques'' P-51D-20 (44-64076) Lt. J.E. Young |
"Attaquez et Conquerez" 8th Fighter Group |
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In August 1942 the Japanese invaded Milne Bay where it was reported
that the 8th Fighter Control Squadron played an important part of the
ground defense with four wheel drive vehicles capable of moving supplies
and ammo through mud to the ground personnel.
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35th Fighter Squadron |
36th Fighter Squadron |
80th Fighter Squadron |
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Once again the 35th and
the 36th replaced the Australian 75th and 76th in Milne Bay on September
18, 1942 with the 80th following on November 8 for limited air action. |
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1942, September 18 - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - Milne Bay, Australia |
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1942, November 8 - Curtiss P-40 Warhawk - Milne Bay, Australia |
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The group served in combat until February 1943 flying P-40s, when
they returned to Mareeba where the 35 & 36 FS were equipped with
the AIRACOBRA, which came from 39 FS, 35 FG, who switched to the new
P-38F LIGHTNING in October 1942. The 80 FS was also equipped with the new LIGHTNING which they took to Port Moresby in March. |
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1943, March - Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea |
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| Bell P-400 AIRACOBRA | Bell P-39 AIRACOBRA | Lockheed P-38H-1 LIGHTNING | ||||||
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Note that it seems the yellow code letters were first used
from now on. When the AIRACOBRAs belonged to the 39FS, 35FG, they were identified by the number on the tail |
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![]() K P-400 (BW-102) The same aircraft as the above one? - |
![]() K "Miss Helen the Flying Jenny" P-39D-1-BE (41-38359) George Schwartz Welch 7. Dec. 1942 ?? |
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![]() K P-400 (AH-736) Norb Ruff Milne Bay, New Guinea, 1943 Ex 19 "The Flaming Arrow" of 'Dick' Suehr (35FG, see below) |
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Resuming operations in April 1943, the 8th
served in combat operations through the rest of the Second World
War, |
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![]() K "Miss Helen the Flying Jenny" P-39D-1-BE (41-38359) George Schwartz Welch ca. february 1943 |
![]() P-38H-1 (4?-?????) E Captain George Schwartz Welch June 1943 - |
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1943, late - Dobodura, Papua-New Guinea |
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| Note: For easier frined-foe identification, the AIRACOBRAs were marked with white tails and wingtips, as all Allied Aircraft in the P-NG area in these days. Because of the distinctive shape, there was no need to paint the LIGHTNINGs, and so these kept their olive-drab camouflage. | ||||||||
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Q ''Air A Cutie'' P-400 (BuNo unknown) |
![]() P-38H-1 (42-66682) A ''PORKY II'' Major Edward 'Ed'/ 'Porky' Cragg He commanded the 80FS from until his death over Cape Gloucester on Boxing Day 1943. |
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![]() P-38H-1 (42-?????) A ''Betty'' The new CO 80th FS Captain Jay T. Robbins Finschhafen, December 1943 |
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![]() P-38H-1 (4?-?????) H - |
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1944 - Lockheed P-38J-10-LO LIGHTNING - Finschhafen, Papua-New Guinea |
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![]() (985) |
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![]() P-38J-10 (4?-?????) H "Hill's Angels" Lt. Allen Hill Finschhafen, 1944 |
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![]() P-38J-10 (4?-?????) H "Sweet Sue'' Lt. Paul Murphy Nadzab |
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1944 - Lockheed P-38J-15-LO LIGHTNING - Papua-New Guinea |
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![]() P-38J-15-LO (4?-?????) 3 "?'' Captain Richard L West First and leading ace of the 35th FS - |
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![]() P-38J-15-LO (4?-?????) T "Down Beat'' Richard I. Bong - - |
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- No pic yet - P-38J-15 (4?-?????) A "Jandina III'' CO 80th FS Captain Jay T. Robbins |
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![]() P-38J-15 (4?-?????) A "Jandina IV'' CO 80th FS Major Jay T. Robbins |
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1944, January - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - Papua-New Guinea |
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![]() P-38L (4?-?????) L "Corky IV'' Cornelius 'Corky' Smith |
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The group supported operations of the Marines at Cape
Gloucester, February and March 1944; |
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"Attack To Defend" 35th Fighter Group |
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39th Fighter
Squadron |
40th Fighter Squadron |
41st Fighter Squadron |
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| 1941-1942 - Bell P-400 AIRACOBRA - 'Twelve Mile'-Drome, Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
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P-400: The export version of the P-39, delivered in RAF-colours but used in the USAAF in the end
(after Pearl Harbor). It has the long barrel of the 20mm Hispano cannon used in the RAF order and has 12 exhausts on each side |
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![]() P-400 19 (AH-736) "The Flaming Arrow" Richard Charles 'Dick' Suehr |
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| Somewhen around february 1943 the shark-mouth was introduced in the 39 FS. | ||||||||
![]() P-400 13 (AH-...) "Pat'' / ''Wahl Eye II" 12 Mile Aerodrome, New Guinea 1942. |
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![]() # 13 - - |
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![]() P-400 19 (AH-736) Richard Charles 'Dick' Suehr |
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| But
in October 1942 whole 39th FS was lucky to receive Lockheed P-38F
fighters as first Fifth Fighter Command outfit. The P-400s went to 8FG. |
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| Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING | Bell P-39K AIRACOBRA | ? | ||||||
| 1943, end of January - Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
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The Battle of Wau, 29 January-31 January 1943, was a battle in the
New Guinea campaign of World War II. Australian forces at Wau were attacked by Japan. |
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![]() P-39K 9 (42-4349) Captain Tom Winburn Flown at Battle of Wau |
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| # 10 - 39 | # 40 - 69 | # 70 - 99 | ||||||
| 1943, August - Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING - Tsili Tsili, New Guinea | ||||||||
![]() P-38H-1 # 10 CO Lt Col Thomas Lynch |
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| 1943, October - Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING - Nadzab, New Guinea | ||||||||
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| 1943, December - Lockheed P-38H-5-LO LIGHTNING - Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
![]() # 33 (42-66905) "Japanese Sandman II" Lt. Richard Eugene Smith |
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| 1943-1944 - Lockheed P-38J-15-LO LIGHTNING - Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
![]() # 16 Captain Bob Farout |
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| 1944, February - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Gusap, New Guinea | ||||||||
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![]() P-47D 91 (4.-...) "-" 2/Lt George Gaffney On March 11, 1944 the Thunderbolt was being flown by 2/Lt George Gaffney on a mission to escort Liberators of the 90th Bombardment Group. On the return trip, Gaffney stopped at Saidor to refuel where he said he had shot down a Japanese aircraft. A short time after this, Gaffney's aircraft went missing between Saidor and Gusap with no sign of aircraft wreckage. Remains of both the aircraft and pilot were found in June 1998 by a team led by Fred Hagen. 2/Lt Gaffney was buried with honours at Arlington National Cemetery on June 10, 1999. |
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| 1944, July - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Owi, Schouten Islands | ||||||||
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| 1944, September - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Morotai, Moluccas | ||||||||
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| 1944, September - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Mangaldan, Luzon, Philippines | ||||||||
| In the Philippines, they painted a black stripe for easier recognition | ||||||||
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| 1945, March - Republic P-47D-28-RA THUNDERBOLT - Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines | ||||||||
![]() 51 P-47D-28-RA (42-29488) (58th FG, 310th FS??) crashed into San Hose Sugarmill, Philippines Mar 19, 1945 Pilot killed |
![]() 80 "Battly Baby" P-47D-28-RA (42-28485) - - - |
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| 1945, April - Republic P-47D-28-RA THUNDERBOLT - Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines | ||||||||
| Soon a second fuselage stripe was added | ||||||||
![]() 46 P-47D-28-RA (42-29080) |
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![]() 175 "Jerry" P-47D-28-RA (42-28508) |
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| Complete cowling coloured | ||||||||
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![]() 73 "Dixieland Darling" P-47D-28-RA (42-29087) |
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![]() 74 P-47D-28-RA (42-29088) |
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| 1945, June - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Okinawa | ||||||||
![]() 10 P-51D (44-64124) Captain Leroy Grossheusch |
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![]() 34 "Viscious Virgin" P-51D (44-63859) Pilot? |
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"Tutor et Ultor" 49th Fighter Group |
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The 49th flew a composite of fighters: The 7th and 8th squadrons flew a mixture of Curtiss P-40E's and P-40K's, with some newer P-40N aircraft arriving in October of 1943. |
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7th Fighter
Squadron |
8th Fighter Squadron |
9th Fighter Squadron |
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| # 11 - 39 | # 40 - 69 | # 70 - 99 | ||||||
| blue spinners |
yellow spinners (black on metal finish) |
white spinners (red on metal finish) |
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| 1942, April - Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK - Darwin, Australia | ||||||||
![]() # 36 Captain William J. Hennon Australia, Summer 1942 |
![]() # 57 Captain George E. 'King' Kiser Darwin, Spring 1942 |
![]() # 81 ''SKEETER'' 2nd Lieutenant John D. Landers Australia, Summer 1942 |
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![]() # 84 (?) ''Texas Longhorn'' - |
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![]() # 85 ''TARHEEL'' 2nd Lieutenant George Preddy |
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![]() # 86 ''STAR DUST'' CO 1st Lieutenant Andrew J. Reynolds |
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![]() # 94 ''BOB'S ROBIN'' Lieutenant Bob Vaught |
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| 1942, October - Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea | ||||||||
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The 9th transitioned from the over achieving P-40 to the P-38 in
October of 1942. General Kenney handed the Lightnings to the 9th after practically stealing them from the 17th Fighter Squadron. |
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| Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK | Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING | ||||||
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![]() P-40E-1 43 (S/N ?) ''JERRY II'' Lt. Bill Day & C.C. Gilliam 3 mile field, Pt.Moresby, November 1942 |
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| 1943, March - Dobodura, Papua New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40E WARHAWK | Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING | ||||||
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![]() P-40E-1 49 (S/N ?) ''DOTTIE II'' Lt. Bill Day & C.C. Gilliam Dobodura, April 1943 |
P-38F 70 | ||||||
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![]() P-40E-1 54 (S/N ?) ''Kansas City Kiddie II'' 2.Lieutenant Robert H. White Dobodura, May 1943 |
P-38F 70 | ||||||
Stations of the 49th FG |
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The white paint on the rear fuselage was a recognition
feature used by the different Allies in the Australia/Papua-New Guinea area |
The typical layout needed no white markings | |||||||
| 1943, October - Dobodura, Papua New Guinea | ||||||||
| Some newer P-40N arrived in October of 1943 | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Lockheed P-38F LIGHTNING | ||||||
![]() P-40N?? 7 (S/N ?) ''Sandy'' Lieutenant Joel B. Paris Dobodura, mid summer 1943 Lt. Paris went on to becoming an ace (9 kills) flying both the P-40 in New Guinea and the P-38 in the Philippines having won the Silver Star for his efforts in keeping a visiting group of visiting VIPs flying in a PBY Catalina (during the invasion of Mindoro) out of harms way from a group of attacking Zeros and was promoted to the rank of Captain as well. Capt. J.Paris was to survive the war, eventually obtaining the rank of General. |
P-40N 40 | P-38F 70 | ||||||
| P-40N 11 | P-40N 40 |
![]() 99 ''Beautiful Lass'' P-38G-13 (43-2204) Captain John G. 'Jump' O'Neill The girl was originally illustrated as a dark skinned woman and later changed to this final rendition for unknown reasons. O'Neill scored his fifth and six 'kills' on October 24, 1943. While leading Green Flight to Rabaul, he a two others dove from 6,000' down onto three Zeros at 3,000'. He made several ineffective passes at one, finally shooting the entire tail off a Zero at a 45 degree deflection. Minutes later, he put another burst into a second Zero, causing it to fly straight and crash into a hill. Between October 15 - 29th (14 days) he scored six kills. |
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By the fall of 1943, the 9th had pretty much used up the remaining
Lockheeds. They needed to be replaced with new aircraft. Unable to get any P-38's due to the demand in the ETO, General Kenney was able to acquire additional Thunderbolts to replace the worn out Fighters. Kenney decided to transition the "Flying Knights" of the 9th FS into the P-47D-5-RE. On November 12, 1943, the remaining P-38s were handed over to a maintenance squadron and the 9th began training with the Thunderbolt. By late November, the 9th was declared as operational. |
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| 1943, November - Dobodura, New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Republic P-47D-5-RE THUNDERBOLT | ||||||
![]() # 13 (42-105202) ''Rita 13'' Robert M. Dehaven Dobodura 1943 |
P-40N 40 |
P-47D-5-RE 83 Major Gerald R. 'Jerry' Johnson The commanding officer of the 9th, Maj. Jerry Johnson, would get the squadron's first victory with the P-47. Yet, it was a victory that should have been passed up. Taking an opportunity to fly with Kearby's 348th FG, Johnson accompanied them on a sweep over Finschhaven (New Guinea). Spotting a radial engine aircraft flying about 3,000 feet above the jungle canopy, Johnson raced down and put a burst into the plane's engine. A parachute was observed. |
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![]() P-40N-5-CU 28 (42-05405) ''O'Rileys Daughter'' Lt- Jack A. Fenimore Dobodura 1943 |
P-40N 40 | P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
| 1943, December - Gusap, New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Republic P-47D-5-RE THUNDERBOLT | ||||||
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Note, that the red outlined 1943 markings were used until early 1944
in this group! But why are then the other blue marking pics dated 1943?? |
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![]() P-40N 24 Lt. Elliott Dent Gusap, New Guinea |
![]() P-40N 51 (S/N 42-105834) Lt. Don Meuten Gusap, New Guinea |
P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
![]() P-40N-5-CU 20 (42-?) ''Keystone Kathleen or Empty Saddle'' CO Arland Stanton Gusap 1944 |
P-40N 40 | P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
| 1944, April - Finchhafen, New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Republic P-47D-5-RE THUNDERBOLT | ||||||
![]() P-40N-5-CU 12 (42-105915) ''Little Jeanne'' Lieutenant Robert Warren Tadji strip |
P-40N 40 | P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
| 1944, May - Hollandia, New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Republic P-47D-5-RE THUNDERBOLT | ||||||
| P-40N 1 | P-40N 40 | P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
| 1944, June - Biak, New Guinea | ||||||||
| Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Curtiss P-40N WARHAWK | Republic P-47D-5-RE THUNDERBOLT | ||||||
![]() P-40N 8 (S/N unknown) Lieutenant Lt. Bob Decker Biak 1944 Decker would go onto flying the P-38L in the Philippines and eventually get 3 career kills while flying the P-38L |
P-40N 40 | P-47D-5-RE 70 | ||||||
| 1944, October - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines | ||||||||
| Late in 1944 the Group got their beloved twin-tails back. While they somehow accepted the replacement of their war weary P-38F`s, they now received fresh P-38L`s | ||||||||
| # 11 - 39 | # 40 - 69 | # 70 - 99 | ||||||
| blue spinners |
yellow spinners (black on metal finish) |
white spinners (red on metal finish) |
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![]() P-38L-5 42 (S/N ?) Major Richard Bong Maj. Bong was officially assigned to the Fifth Fighter Command but flying with the 9th FS 49th FG at the time he flew "42" He had already gone through a few P-38J's named "Marge" before. As it seems, this one (his last) wasn't named, though.- |
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| 1944, December - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - San Jose, Mindiro, Philippines | ||||||||
![]() P-38L-5-LO 44 (44-25568) "Itsy Bitsy II" Major George Laven (Lavin?) Philippines, 1944 |
![]() P-38L-5-LO 10 (44-25638) "Almost A Draggin" / "Kittie" Maj. Clayton Isaacson Philippines, 1945 |
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| 1945, February - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - Lingayen, Luzon, Philippines | ||||||||
| 1945, August - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - Okinawa, Japan | ||||||||
| Note: red/white stripes of the 5th Air Force | ||||||||
![]() P-38L-5-LO 83 (S/N ?) Deputy CO Major Gerald R. 'Jerry' Johnson |
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"Non Revertar Inultus" 58th Fighter Group |
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69th Fighter
Squadron |
310th Fighter
Squadron |
311th Fighter
Squadron |
201st
Mexican Fighter |
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| 1942 - Lockheed P-38 LIGHTNING | ||||||||||
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| 1944, early - Republic P-47D-16-RE THUNDERBOLT - Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||||
![]() P-47D-16-RE A23 (42-23224) 1st Lt. Herbert B. Emrich |
![]() P-47D-16-RE H34 (42-76059) CO 310FS Major John Mc Clure |
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![]() P-47D H54 (S/N ?) "The Pied Pieper" - |
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| 1944 - Republic P-47D THUNDERBOLT - Philippines | ||||||||||
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![]() P-47D 21 (44-33721) - |
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"Per Caelum Victorae" 348th Fighter Group |
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General Kenney was
finding it increasingly difficult to obtain additional numbers of the
big, long ranging twin. Another dilemma facing Kenney was that many of
his existing P-38's were older P-38F and G models with considerable
combat hours in their logbooks. It would not be long before many of
these would be officially classified as "war weary".
Kenney was offered a choice of several other
fighters in its stead. However, the 5th was already well populated with
the P-40 Warhawk. The performance of the P-40 was only adequate at best.
Its range was limited, which largely meant that it was not suitable for
many of the 5th's mission requirements. The 348th Fighter Group arrived in Australia on June 30th 1943 with their P-47D-2-RE Jugs. Just as in Britain, the Thunderbolt made an immediate impression upon the RAAF personnel. Reportedly, as a P-47 pilot climbed down from the cockpit, one Aussie ground crewman inquired; "Where is the rest of the crew?" |
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340th Fighter Squadron |
341st Fighter Squadron |
342nd Fighter Squadron |
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| # 1 - 25 | # 26 - 50 |
# 51 - 75 |
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| 1943, early - Republic P-47D-2-RE THUNDERBOLT - Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
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![]() P-47D-2-RE 73 (42-8145) ''Fiery Ginger'' Colonel Neel E. Kearby A/C lost Oct 22, 1943 (342nd FG). MACR 4361 |
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| 1943, late - Republic P-47D-2-RE THUNDERBOLT - Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
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![]() P-47D-4-RA 31 (42-22684) "Miss Mutt II'' / PRIDE of LODI OHIO CO 348FG Lt.Col. Robert R. Rowland |
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| 1944 - Republic P-47D-30-RE THUNDERBOLT - Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea | ||||||||
| - |
P-47D-3-RA 38 (42-22637) ''Darling Dottie III'' Major John T Moore 1944 |
![]() P-47D 2 (44-5744??) - - - |
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|
October
1944 => Note: New Numbers and from now on with an additional 4th Squadron, the 460th |
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340th Fighter Squadron |
341st Fighter Squadron |
342nd Fighter Squadron |
460th Fighter Squadron |
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| # 10 - 39 | # 40 - 69 | # 70 - 99 | # 100 - 129 | ||||||||
| 1944, October - Republic P-47D-2-RE THUNDERBOLT - Luzon, Philippines | |||||||||||
| - | - |
![]() P-47D-23-RA 84 (42-278884) "Sylvia" |
- | ||||||||
| 1944 - Republic P-47D-2-RE THUNDERBOLT - Luzon, Philippines | |||||||||||
| - | - | - |
P-47D-23-RA 120 (42-27884) ''Bonnie'' Major William D. 'Dinghy' Dunham |
||||||||
| 1945 - North American P-51D MUSTANG - Luzon, Philippines | |||||||||||
| - | - |
![]() P-51D-23-RA 80 (44-64113) ''Lady Marion'' Lieutenant K.W. Greever |
- | ||||||||
| 1945, July - North American P-51K (&D) MUSTANG - Iwo Jima | |||||||||||
| - | - | - |
![]() P-51D 120 (44-12073) ''SunshineVII'' CO Lt.Col. William M. Banks |
||||||||
| 1945, August - North American P-51K (&D) MUSTANG - Ie Shima | |||||||||||
| - |
![]() # 00 (44-12017) ''Mrs. Bonnie'' Deputy Group CO Lieutenant Colonel William D. 'Dinghy' Dunham |
- | - | ||||||||
| - |
![]() # 44 (44-12076) ''Lil Lassie'' Lieutenant Howard Lorenz |
- | - | ||||||||
"In Proclio Gandete" 475th Fighter Group |
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|
During World War II, the 475th Fighter Group was engaged in combat
for approximately two years. The group completed 3042 missions, (21,701
Sorties) and shot down 551 Japanese aircraft. On the other hand, the
Group lost only 56 Planes to the Japanese. During the war, the Group took part in seven campaigns, and was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations for outstanding performance of duty in action. In addition to Majors Bong and McGuire, the unit boasted such "Aces" of the Pacific War as Col. Charles MacDonald (27), Capt. Daniel T. Roberts (14), Lt. Francis J. Lent (11), Lt. Col. John S. Loisel (11), Capt. Elliot Summer (10), plus many more. By the war's end, no fewer than 38 other pilots from the 475th FG had achieved ace status while flying exclusively P-38s. |
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431st Fighter Squadron |
432nd Fighter Squadron |
433rd Fighter Squadron |
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| # 11 - 39 | # 40 - 69 |
# 70 - 99 |
||||||
| 1943, November - Lockheed P-38H-5 LIGHTNING - Dobodura, New Guinea | ||||||||
| - |
![]() 144 ''Impossible Ince'' P-38H-5 (42-66568) Lieutenant James C. Ince |
- | ||||||
| 1943, December - Lockheed P-38H-5 LIGHTNING - Dobodura, New Guinea | ||||||||
![]() # ? blank stock cfs2 skin - |
![]() 143 ''Blood & Guts'' P-38H-1 (42-...) Lieutenant Elliot Summer |
- | ||||||
| - |
![]() 161 ''Screamin' Kid'' P-38H-1 (42-66682) CO 432nd FS Major John Loisel He later became CO of the entire 475th FG and downed at least two (maybe 4) Zekes in this Aircraft - his backdrop. Dobodura, January 1944 |
- | ||||||
![]() 131 ''Pudgy'' P-38H-1 (4?-???) Major T.B. McGuire 2nd leading ace of WW2 (38) Dobodura, December 1943 |
![]() 162 ''Skidoo'' P-38H-1 (42-66504) Lieutenant Perry Dahl He finished the war with 7 victories. Dobodura, late 1943 - January 1944 |
- | ||||||
| 1943, December - Lockheed P-38J-5 LIGHTNING - Dobodura, New Guinea | ||||||||
|
131 ''Pudgy II''
P-38H (42-66817) Major Thomas B. McGuire |
168 ''Black Market Babe'' Lieutenant Billy Gresham |
- | ||||||
| - |
![]() # - ? - |
- | ||||||
| 1944 - Lockheed P-38L-1 LIGHTNING - Dobodura, New Guinea | ||||||||
|
# 131 ''Pudgy III'' Major Thomas B. McGuire |
- | - | ||||||
|
# 131 ''Pudgy IV'' Major Thomas B. McGuire |
- | - | ||||||
# 131 ''Pudgy V'' (44-24155) Major Thomas B. McGuire 2nd leading Ace of WW2 (38) |
- | - | ||||||
| 1944, October - Lockheed P-38L-5-LO LIGHTNING - Biak, West-Papua | ||||||||
# 100 ''Putt Putt Maru'' CO Colonel Charles H. MacDonald 5th leading ace of WW2 (27) |
||||||||
| 1944, December - Lockheed P-38L-5 LIGHTNING - Leyte | ||||||||
| - | - |
# 174 ''Lizzie V'' Captain J. E. Purdy |
||||||
| 1945, June - Lockheed P-38L-5 LIGHTNING - Lingayen, Philippines | ||||||||
# 111 ''PeeWee V'' Captain Ken Hart |
- | - | ||||||
# 135 ''Pappy Bandit'' Pilot? |
- | - | ||||||
| 1945 - Lockheed P-38J-15-LO LIGHTNING - Luzon, Philippines | ||||||||
# 993 ''Marge'' Richard Ira Bong leading ace of WW2 (40) |
- |
![]() # 194 ''Virginia Marie'' - - |
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547th Night Fighter Squadron |
||
| Activated March 1944 with P-61. Served in New Guinea, Philippines, Ie Shima, Japan. | ||
|
1944, March - Northrop P-61B-1 BLACK WIDOW - New Guinea |
||
| - | - | |
|
1944 - Northrop P-61B-1-NO BLACK WIDOW - Philippines |
||
|
The B variant had 4 pylons, while the A could only carry two
tanks. The B also had a slightly longer nose and other propellers. |
||
![]() P-61B-1-NO (42-39403) ''Times a'wastin'' One of only two of the first 200 P-61B's to retain the dorsal four-gun turret, this not being revived until Block 15 when buffering problems associated with the guns were cured. A/C condemned inventory Jun 11,1 95 |
![]() P-61B-1-NO (42-39440) ''Swing Shift Skipper'' Lt. Arthur Bourque Lingayen Airstrip, Philippines - A/C condemned salvage obsolete Sep 28, 1945 |
|
|
1944 - Northrop P-61B-2 BLACK WIDOW - Ie Shima |
||
| - | - | |
|
1945 - Northrop P-61B-20 BLACK WIDOW - Japan |
||
| - | - | |
| Inactivated February 1946 | ||
418th Night Fighter Squadron |
|
|
Received Black Widow in September 1944 |
|
| The leading Black Widow crew in the Pacific was the pair Major Carrol C. Smith (pilot) and Lt. Philip B. Porter (radar operator) of the 418th Night Fighter Squadron, who destroyed five Japanese aircraft. | |
|
1944, September - Northrop P-61B-15 BLACK WIDOW - New Guinea |
|
![]() P-61B-15-NO (42-39576) condemned salvage obsolete Jun 24, 1946 |
|
|
1945 - Northrop P-61B-15 BLACK WIDOW - Philippines |
|
|
P-61B-15-NO (42-39588) (418th NFS) lost Aug 10, 1945, South Pacific. MACR 14875 |
|
|
P-61B-15-NO (42-39591) (418th NFS) lost Aug 4, 1945, SW Pacific. MACR 14886 |
|
|
1947, February - Inactivated but reactivated August 1948 as 4th All Weather Squadron. |
421st Night Fighter Squadron |
|
|
Received Black Widow June 1944 |
|
|
1944, September - Northrop P-61 BLACK WIDOW - New Guinea |
|
| - | |
|
1944, September - Northrop P-61 BLACK WIDOW - Tacloban Strip, Leyte, Philippines |
|
![]() "Skippy" / "Nocturnal Nemesis" P-61A-1 (42-5502) Pilot 2Lt. David Corts + R/O Lt. Alexander Berg Tacloban Strip, Leyte, late 1944 Credited with one confirmed (during night action) - It was a Japanese bomber that was not directly shot down by them, but by another Japanese aircraft that was firing at them, missing and hitting one of their own aircraft, knocking it down! BTW: P-61A-1s prior to 42-5523 had turrets, but left them in a forward position because of buffetting. |
|
|
1945 - Northrop P-61B-20-NO BLACK WIDOW - Philippines |
|
![]() P-61B-20-NO (43-8257) ''Monnie'' - 5AF, Philippines 1945 which unit exactly? |
|
|
1947, February - Inactivated but reactivated august 1948 as 68th All Weather Squadron |
Northrop P-61A-1 Black Widow Nightfighter
"Skippy" crewed by 2Lt. David Corts and R/O Lt. Alexander Berg, 421st
Night Fighter Squadron, Tacloban Strip, Leyte, late 1944 --
3rd Bomb Group |
|||||||||||
| Non Solum Armis | |||||||||||
| B-25's, A-20's | |||||||||||
8th Bomb Squadron |
13th Bomb Squadron |
89th Bomb Squadron |
90th Bomb Squadron |
||||||||
| ? | ? | ||||||||||
| 1942 - Papua New Guinea | |||||||||||
| Douglas A-24B BANSHEE | North American B-25C/D MITCHELL | North American B-25C/D MITCHELL | North American B-25C/D MITCHELL | ||||||||
![]() A-24B (41-08108) |
- | - | |||||||||
![]() A-24B (41-15774) |
- | - | - | ||||||||
![]() A-24B (41-15821) |
- | - | - | ||||||||
![]() A-24B (41-26671) |
- | - | - | ||||||||
| 1943 - Papua New Guinea | |||||||||||
|
Ferried to Charter Towers in January '43 this aircraft was
originally to be assigned to the 13th BS. As fate had it, 41-13088 was selected to become one of Pappy Gunn's original B-25C-1 Commerce Destroyers. Once converted it was assigned to the 90th BS, the first Squadron to receive them. 41-13088 was assigned to one of the most colorful, some say crazy pilots in a group of colorful pilots, Capt. Bob Chatt. Thus she became "Chatter Box". |
|||||||||||
| Douglas A-24B BANSHEE | North American B-25C/D MITCHELL | ? | North American B-25C/D MITCHELL | ||||||||
| - | B-25C-1 (41-13088 ) |
![]() "CHATTER BOX" B-25C-1 (41-13088 ) Captain Bob Chatt Chatt and his "Box" led 90th BS's third section during the main attack on Convoy 81 in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. They sank the 1500-ton destroyer Arashio |
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| 1944 - Papua New Guinea | |||||||||||
| Douglas A-24B BANSHEE | Douglas A-20G HAVOC | Douglas A-20G HAVOC | Douglas A-20G HAVOC | ||||||||
| - | - |
![]() W "Big Nig III" A-20G-45-DO (43-21815) |
- | ||||||||
| 1945 - Philippines | |||||||||||
| Douglas A-26B INVADER | ? | ? | ? | ||||||||
![]() T A-26B (44-34323) |
- | - | - | ||||||||
| 19th Bomb Group | |||
| 1942 (battle scarred from Philippines & Java) | |||
|
28th Bomb Squadron |
435th Squadron |
30th Bomb Squadron |
93rd Bomb Squadron |
|
- |
- |
- |
- |
22nd Bomb Group |
|||||||
2nd
Bomb Squadron |
19th
Bomb Squadron |
33rd
Bomb Squadron |
408th
Bomb Squadron |
||||
| 1941 - Douglas A-20G HAVOC | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| 1942 - Martin B-26 MARAUDER - Australia, NSW | |||||||
| - | - | - | - | ||||
| 1943 - North American B-25 MITCHELL | |||||||
| - | - | (s/n 41-30324) crashed during take-off into parked aircraft at Garbutt aerodrome on 17 July 1943 |
- | ||||
2nd Bomb Squadron |
19th Bomb Squadron |
33rd Bomb Squadron |
408th Bomb Squadron |
||||
| 1944 - Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR | |||||||
| - | - |
(s/n 41-100292) crashed into the sea near Innisfail (28 Feb`44) pilot was George E. Nellis. |
- | ||||
38th Bomb Group |
|||||||||||
| The 38th Bomb Group was the first medium Bomb Group to be permanently stationed in New Guinea. Their activities started with the bombing of the Wairopi (Pigdin for 'Wire Rope') Bridge and enemy trails at Soputa, thus taking an active and almost daily participation in the Buna campaign. | |||||||||||
|
69th Bomb
Squadron (Transfered out early in the war) |
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|
70th Bomb
Squadron |
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71st
Bomb Squadron |
405th
Bomb Squadron |
822nd
Bomb Squadron |
823rd
Bomb Squadron |
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|
1942 - Australia (B-25's not operational yet) |
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| 1942, Summer - North American B-25C/D MITCHELL - Durand Drome (17mile Strip) near Port Moresby, New-Guinea | |||||||||||
| - |
![]() "Tokyo Sleeper" B-25C-1 (41-12905) Durand Drome, Mid 1942. Later converted into strafer in July of '43. Originally named Row Binder II, Tokyo Sleeper flew 136 missions before she was retired in March 1944. She then served as a fatcat with the 71st Squadron but was written off on 25th June 1944 at Mokmer Drome, Biak, during a landing accident. |
- | - | ||||||||
| 1943, March - Battle of the Bismarck Sea | |||||||||||
| 1943, July - North American B-25C/D MITCHELL - Port Moresby, New-Guinea | |||||||||||
|
In summer of 1943 many of the planes (all?) were refitted with
addtional guns in the nose mostly together with a hard nose and used as Commerce Destroyers, hunting enemy ships. At this time the wild nosearts were painted. For these strafing missions the ventral turret was useless and soon replaced by a 300 Gallon Internal Drop Tank created by Pappy Gunn. This tank greatly extended the range of the B-25, making the strikes at far flung locations like Wewak, But, Rabaul and Kavieng possible from their fields at Port Moresby. |
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| - |
![]() B-25D-5 (41-30117) CO 405BS Captain Tom Cheli Shot down by AAA over Dagua Aug 18, 1943. Crew KIA. |
- | - | ||||||||
| - |
![]() B-25D-5 (41-30118) Com.Plt. Major Williston M. Cox Plt. Captain Robert L. Herry Co.Plt. 2/Lt. Robert J. Koscelnak Nav. 1/Lt. Louis J. Rittaco Eng./Gn. S/Sgt. Raymond J. Zimmerman Radio T/Sgt. Hugh W. Anderson Took off from Durand Drome (17mile) on a barge sweep and strike against Madang Airstrip Aug 18, 1943. Damaged by anti-aircraft fire, it ditched between Wongat Island and the coast of New Guinea. The Engineer/gunner. S/Sgt. Raymond J. Zimmerman drowned in the crash. The crew swam to Wongat Island where they were captured and later executed, except Mj. Cox. who was separated and survived as POW External Link |
- | - | ||||||||
| 1943, November - North American B-25C/D MITCHELL - Port Moresby, New-Guinea | |||||||||||
| - |
![]() B-25D-5 (41-30116) 1st Lt Edward Jr. Maurer Port-Moresby 1943 |
- | - | ||||||||
| 1944 - North American B-25D MITCHELL - New-Guinea | |||||||||||
|
By March 1944 only four of the original Mitchells were still
flying combat with the 38th Bombardment Group. They were: #41-12895 Grasscutter, 107 Combat Missions 335 Combat Hours, #41-12905 Tokyo Sleeper, 131 Combat Missions, 447 Combat Hours, #41-12908 Mavourneen, 95 Combat Missions, 363 Combat Hours, #41-12938 Ole Cappy, 116 Combat Missions, 408 Combat Hours. |
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![]() ''Pissonit'' B-25D-15 (41-30370) Pilot William Smith Navigator Hollie Rushing Co-pilot Frank Benson Radio J.C. Healan (KIA) Tail Gunner Albert Gross (KIA) |
- | - | - | ||||||||
| 1944 - North American B-25G MITCHELL - Nadzab, New Guinea | |||||||||||
| - | - |
![]() B-25G-5 (42-64812) Nadzab, New Guinea, 1944 - |
![]() ''Kunai Kutter'' B-25G-5 (4.-.....) - |
||||||||
| - | - | - |
![]() ''Tee Kay'' B-25G-5 (4.-.....) |
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| 1945 - North American B-25J MITCHELL - Okinawa | |||||||||||
![]() ''Emergency Strip'' B-25J-25 (44-30852) |
![]() " ? " B-25J-30 (44-30921) - |
- |
![]() "Tiger Lil" B-25J-30 (44-31372) - |
||||||||
| - |
![]() B-25J-20 (44-29358) condemned salvage 23 Aug 1945 |
- | - | ||||||||
43rd Bomb Group |
|||||||
63rd Bomb Squadron |
64th Bomb Squadron |
65th Bomb Squadron |
403rd Bomb Squadron |
||||
|
1942 - no planes - |
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| 1943 - Consolidated B-24H LIBERATOR - South-West-Pacific | |||||||
| - |
![]() B-24H (42-?) South-West Pacific, 1943 |
- | - | ||||
| 1945 - Consolidated B-24J-190-CO LIBERATOR - Iwo Jima | |||||||
| - |
![]() ''The Dragon and his Tail'' B-24J-190-CO (44-40973) |
- | - | ||||
90th Bomb Group |
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|
The 90th Bomb Group Squadrons all used the same design. 319th = dark blue background with red outer circle. 320th = all red background. 321st = light blue (green?) background. 400th = black background with red outer circle. The group HQ may also have used a medium blue background with white outer circle. There are a great variety of 90th BG Jolly Roger patches. |
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319th
Bomb Squadron |
320th
Bomb Squadron |
321st
Bomb Squadron |
400th
Bomb Squadron |
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|
1942 - Consolidated B-24D-15-CO LIBERATOR - South Pacific |
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| - | - |
![]() ''Will`s War Wagon'' |
- | ||||
|
1943 - Consolidated B-24D-15-CO LIBERATOR - South Pacific |
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| - |
![]() ''Moby Dick'' B-24D-15-CO (41-24047) Salvaged Stillwater, OK. Disposed of Oct 1945 |
- | - | ||||
|
1944 - Consolidated B-24 LIBERATOR - South Pacific |
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| - |
B-24D-15-CO (41-24077) (90th BG, 320th BS) lost Apr 16, 1943 in attack on convoy near Wewak. Crashed 30 mi S of Bena Bena. Located in 1995 near Okapa village, Eastern Highlands, PNG. |
![]() "Tokio Express" B-24D-15-CO (41-24074) salvaged in USA (90th BG, 319th BS) |
- | ||||
| - |
407 B-24J (4.-.407) |
- | - | ||||
| 1945 - Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR - Mindoro, Philippines | |||||||
![]() 337 ''Queen Mae'' B-24J-155-CO (44-40337) |
053 "Old Iron Sides" B-24J-130-CO (41-24053) |
- | - | ||||
![]() ''Maid in the USA'' B-24J-155-CO (44-40341) |
- - |
![]() 193 ''Booby Trap'' - |
- | ||||
312th Bomb Group |
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|
The aicraft in this group all wore the distinctive skull & bones
noseart painted around the holes for the guns. Further each Squadron has then one of the suits of a playing cards deck painted on the side. |
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386th Bomb Squadron |
387th Bomb Squadron |
388th Bomb Squadron |
389th Bomb Squadron |
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| Clubs | Diamonds | Hearts | Spades | ||||||||
|
Note: I personally doubt, 500 & 501 Squadron having both red as
colour. I would assume one had another colour which is interpretated as red on B&W pics. Maybe one used green ? If, which squadron? |
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| 1944, April - Douglas A-20G HAVOC - New Guinea | |||||||||||
| - |
? A-20G-20-DO (42-86772) (312th BG, 387th BG) lost Apr 16, 1945, SWAPC. MACR 13320 Also have this plane as crashing Apr 16, 1944 while with 387th BS, crew rescued. Wreck was recovered from Annamberg, New Guinea in 1985 for use by RAAF Museum in restoration of A-20G 42-86786. However, last user quoted as 417th BG/673rd BS. Remains of this aircraft noted in storage at RAAF Amberley, Australia November 2002, for disposal by RAAF Museum now that their two A-20 restorations are complete |
![]() F "Hell'n Pelican II" A-20G-20-DO (42-86786) On April 16, 1944 it, along with a number of other USAAF aircraft, were lost to New Guinea weather - the day known as Black Sunday. In September 1984 the aircraft was recovered by the RAAF near Annamoin for restoration and ultimate return to Papua New Guinea. Restoration completed in 1996. It is now stored at RAAF Base Amberley awaiting a suitable display hangar to be built in Port Moresby. |
- | ||||||||
| 1945, January - Douglas A-20G-40-DO HAVOC - Philippines | |||||||||||
| - | - | - |
![]() T "Little Joe" A-20G-20-DO (43-21475) |
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345th
Bomb Group |
|||||||||||
|
War-Record: 10,609 Sorties 58,562 Combat flying hours 6,340 Tons of bombs dropped 12,586,000 Rounds of ammunition expended 177 Planes lost 588 Personnel lost on flights 260 Japanese vessels destroyed 275 Japanese vessels damaged 260 Japanese planes destroyed on the ground 107 Japanese planes destroyed in the air |
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| The group developed the "strafer" and perfected the hazardous art of low-level destruction against the ever diminishing presence of the Japanese naval and merchant fleets. | |||||||||||
498th
Bomb Squadron |
499th
Bomb Squadron |
500th
Bomb Squadron |
501th
Bomb Squadron | ||||||||
|
Note: I personally doubt, 500 & 501 Squadron having both red as
colour. I would assume one had another colour which is interpretated as red on B&W pics. Maybe one used green ? If, which squadron? |
|||||||||||
| 1943 - North American B-25D MITCHELL - Australia | |||||||||||
|
Glass or hardnose? Most planes here were glass-nosed, but shown here in painted-over nose configuration For example "Tondelayo": At various times during the war she had the standard glass nose, that nose painted over except for the bombardier's front panel and totally painted-over. |
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![]() ''Best Yet'' B-25D-5 (41-30032) - - - |
"Blunder Bus" B-25D-5 (41-30028) 1st Lt. Claude W. Burger Crashed Jul 8, 1943 in takeoff accident at Port Moresby. 3 crew members injured. |
- |
''Bedroom Commando'' B-25D-5 (41-30074) Shot down May 21, 1944 near Dagua, New Guinea airstrip. MACR 16180 - All 6 crew KIA. |
||||||||
| 1943, October - North American B-25C/D-1 MITCHELL - Port Moresby, New Guinea | |||||||||||
| - |
![]() ''Dirty Dora'' B-25D-1 (41-12971) - - |
![]() ''Tondelayo'' B-25D-20 (41-30669) Pilot 1/Lt. Ralph G. Wallace Turretgunner Sgt. John A Murphy |
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![]() "Near Miss" / ''Hilda'' B-25D-1 (41-30026) 1st Lt. Roy F. Turk - - |
![]() ''Hell`s Belles'' B-25D-1 (41-30019) 1st Lt Kennneth McKlyure Built as D-5 & converted to D-1 strafer. |
![]() "Hell`s Fire'' B-25D-10 (41-30278) Port Moresby, November of 1943 - - |
- | ||||||||
|
Tondelayo: This most famous B-25 of the 500th Bomb Squadron was named after Hedy Lamar's sultry character in the movie "White Cargo." The above picture shows TONDELAYO fighting for her life with 1/Lt. Ralph G. Wallace at the controls, its right engine shot out, skimming over the water of St. George's Channel after bombing a Japanese ship at Vunapope near Rabaul on October 18, 1943. On the left wing is the flight leader, Capt. Lyle E. Anacker, in SNAFU, while 1/Lt. Harlan H. Peterson, flying SORRY SATCHUL, is just about to set down in the water after losing an engine during a Japanese fighter attack. Tondelayo was under constant attack for 75 minutes in a running gun battle with approximately fifty Japanese fighter planes of the 204th Japanese Kokutai Zeros. She did get in a few good licks, though, with the turret gunner, Sgt. John A Murphy, given credit for shooting down five aircraft, making him an ace. Four other fighter planes crashed into the water after misjudging distances on their passes. The 345th Group earned the coveted Distinguished Unit Citation and Tondelayo's crew members earned a Silver Star for their bravery. This flight by Tondelayo was considered one of the finest examples of bravery, tenacity and endurance by any crew of the 345th. |
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| 1943, end - North American B-25D MITCHELL - Dobodura, New Guinea | |||||||||||
![]() ''Red Wrath'' B-25D-1 (41-30024) Ex ''Pannell Job'' of 500BS ? - - |
"Miss Ellen" B-25D-5 (41-30039) Built as D-5 & converted to D-1 strafer. loaned to 500th BS. Hit by AAA and crashed 3 mi SW of Rabaul, New Guinea Nov 2, 1943. MACR 1071. 5 KIA |
![]() ''Stubborn Hellion'' B-25C-10 (42-32314) Shot down by AAA in attack on Kavieng, New Britain Feb 15, 1944. 1 of 6 crew killed. |
- | ||||||||
![]() ''Crabb 2nd'' B-25D-1 Strafer (41-30517) Dobodura, 26. December 1943 Built as D-15 & converted to D-1 strafer. Hit by friendly AA fire from ships and ditched into Borgen Bay, 6 mi off Silimati Point, New Britain. Crew paddled ashore and returned. |
B-25D-20 (41-30572) Damaged by AAA and ditched near Uligan, New Guinea Nov 20, 1943. MACR 1146. All 6 crew captured and executed. |
"Here's Howe" B-25D-10 (41-30279) Converted to D-1 strafer with 3rd BG, 90th BS, then to 345th BG, 500th BS. Shot down by friendly AA fire from ships NW of Silimati Point, New Britain Dec 26, 1943. MACR 1847. 6 KIA. |
- | ||||||||
![]() B-25D-5 (41-30741) - - - |
- |
![]() "Saturday Nite" B-25D-5 (41-30079) February 1944 - |
- | ||||||||
| 1944 - North American B-25D MITCHELL - Nadzab , south eastern New Guinea | |||||||||||
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''Stingeroo'' B-25D-5 (41-30020) Ditched east of Kar Kar Island due to engine failure Apr 16, 1944 during infamous Black Sunday mission to Hollanida. Crew rescued. |
![]() ''Pannell Job'' B-25D-5 (41-30024?) - - - - |
![]() ''Tin Liz'' B-25D-5 (41-30074) Shot down May 21, 1944 near Dagua airstrip (But East), New Guinea. MACR 16180 - All 6 crew KIA. External Link |
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| 1944 - North American B-25G & H MITCHELL - Nadzab , south eastern New Guinea | |||||||||||
![]() ''Clana Louise'' B-25H-1 (43-4345) |
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| 1944, October - North American B-25G MITCHELL - Biak, north-western New Guinea | |||||||||||
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![]() B-25G-5 (42-64809) |
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| 1944, October - North American B-25J MITCHELL - Philippines | |||||||||||
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Around october 1944 they moved from Guinea to the Philippines. Note: Apache-head on the fin from now on |
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![]() B-25H-10 (44-4899) - - - |
![]() "Chowhound Junior" B-25J-20 (44-29606) - - |
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![]() "Lazy Daisy Mae" B-25J-11- NC (44-29012) First American aircraft to land on Philippine soil, 28 October 1944 |
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| 1945, January - North American B-25J MITCHELL - Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines | |||||||||||
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![]() ''Sag Harbor Express'' B-25J-32 (4.-..030) 2Lt. Arthur Browngardt Jr. & crew Hit by Japanese flak when it was bombing Clark Field (PI) on January, 7th 1945. Hit the church and crashed at Angeles City, Philippines All crew KIA. |
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![]() ''Reina Del Pacifico'' B-25J-11- NC (4.-..020) Tacloban, Leyte, January 1945 - - - - - |
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![]() ''Apache Princess'' B-25J-11- NC (4.-..152) Tacloban, Leyte, January 1945 |
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| 1945, April - North American B-25J MITCHELL - Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines | |||||||||||
![]() ''Lady Lil'' B-25J-20 (44-29577) Lt. Albert J. Beiga Clark Field, Philippines 1945 |
![]() B-25J-20 (44-29600) - - to reclamation 13 Jul 1944 |
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![]() ''Jaunty Jo'' B-25J-20 (44-29192) - |
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![]() B-25J-20 (44-29199) It is depicted as 1st Lt Ralph E. 'Peppy' Blount flew it against the Kanju Maru, a derelict Japanese freighter in the Saigon River near Saigon, on April 28, 1945. |
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| 1945 - North American B-25J MITCHELL - Okinawa | |||||||||||
| They finally entered the battle of Okinawa, where they supported the invasion. | |||||||||||
![]() B-25J-20 (44-29115) - |
![]() B-25J-25 (44-29931) - |
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![]() B-25J-20 (44-29226) Red Falcon??, white stripe? - |
![]() ''My Dutchess'' B-25J-11-NC (4.-..147) Philippines 1945 |
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380th Bomb Group |
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528th Bomb Squadron |
529th Bomb Squadron |
530th Bomb Squadron |
531st Bomb Squadron |
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| 1945 - Consolidated B-24D-145-CO LIBERATOR | |||||||
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![]() B-24D-145-CO (42-41214) South-West Pacific lost Jan 13, 1944, MACR 2628 |
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| 417th Bomb Group | |||
| 672nd Bomb Squadron | 673rd Bomb Squadron | 674th Bomb Squadron | 675th Bomb Squadron |
| 1944 - Douglas A-20G HAVOC - Noemfoor | |||
![]() A-20G-40-DO L (43-21475) "The Kitten" |
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![]() ''My Joy'' - |
![]() ''Green Hornet'' - |
![]() A-20G-45-DO J (43-22154) "PiZ-DoFF" |
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| 54th Troop Carrier Wing | |
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55th Troop Carrier Squadron "Junge Skippers" |
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| 1944 - Douglas C-47A SKYTRAIN - Mindoro | |
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![]() C-47A-30-DK (43-48234) ''Oklahoma Gal'' At the Aviation Museum in Australia. Noted 1988 in Air World, Wangaratta, Australia |
| 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron |
| 1944 - Canadian Vickers OA-10A CATALINA |
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| Later to 13th Air Force |
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© Michael Reimer 2009