5th U.S. Army Air Force

HQ : PHILIPPINES

Order: Patrol the south-west Pacific Ocean

Version: 21-01-10 (D-M-Y) - 123 profiles to see here
 V. Bomber Command
-
3rd Bombardment Group
12th Bombardment Group
19th Bombardment Group
22nd Bombardment Group
38t Bombardment Group; B-25
43th Bombardment Group (H); B17, B-24
90th Bombardment Group (H); B-24
312th Bombardment Group; A-20
345th Bombardment Group; B-25
380th Bombardment Group (H); B-24
417th Bombardment Group; A-20

 

 

 

 

3rd Bomb Group
"Grim Reapers"
Non Solum Armis
B-25's, A-20's
During the war the 3rd Bomb Group was credited with:
642 ships sunk
more than 2000 aircrafts destroyed
200000 tonnes of supplies destroyed
1500 buildings destroyed
about 40000 Japanese soldiers killed
It received three Distinguished Unit Citation, one Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Presidential Citation.
The unit lost 174 planes with 1634 men diying in combat, 28 diying from sickness and 2500 men being injured.

8th Bomb Squadron

13th Bomb Squadron
"Oscar"

89th Bomb Squadron

90th Bomb Squadron
  ?   ?
1942   -   Seven Miles, Port Moresby, New Guinea
Douglas A-24B BANSHEE North American B-25C/D MITCHELL North American B-25C/D MITCHELL North American B-25C/D MITCHELL

 14  "Shwab's Wagon"
A-24B (41-....)
Seven Miles 1942		 -
 13  "Little Hellion"
A-20A (4.-0166)
Port Moresby, November 1942
 

A-24B (41-08108)
fictional mirror code		 - -  

A-24B (41-15774)
-		 - - -

A-24B (41-15821)
-		 - - -

A-24B (41-26671)
-		 - - -
1943   -   Papua New Guinea
2 March 1943 – 4 March 1943   -   Battle of the Bismarck Sea
Douglas A-24B BANSHEE North American B-25C/D MITCHELL ? North American B-25C/D MITCHELL
-
"El Aguila"
B-25C-1 (41-12482)
Dobodura, September 1943
To Netherlands East Indies as N5-161. Ferried to Australia
but NTU by NEIAF.
Returned to USAAF as 41-12482.
-
-		 -
"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
Fate: Salvaged May 6, 1943
"CHATTER BOX"
 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".
- - -
"Runt's Roost"
B-25D-1 (41-29727 )
Dobodura, 1943
White bars only, no red outline yet
- - -
"Mortimer"
B-25C-1 (41-12443 )
Hollandia, September 1943
To Netherlands Indies AF as N5-123. Ferried to Australia but
NTU by NEIAF and returned to
USAAF as 41-12443
Dark blue surrounded markings
1944   -   Dobodura, Nadzab, Hollandia, all Papua New Guinea
Douglas A-20G HAVOC Douglas A-20G HAVOC Douglas A-20G HAVOC Douglas A-20G HAVOC
  ?   ?

 ?  "-"
A-20G-40-DO (43-21422)
Dobodura, January 1944
-		 -
 S  "-"
A-20G-45-DO (42-54116)
Nadzab (New-Guinea),
beginning of 1944
 W  "-"
A-20G-45-DO (42-8672
Nadzab (New-Guinea),
beginning of 1944
- -
 V  "Big Nig"
A-20G-..-DO (43-9436)
Hollandia (New-Guinea), May 1944		 -
- -
 W  "Big Nig III"
A-20G-45-DO (43-21815)		 -
1945   -   Philippines
Douglas A-26B INVADER ? Douglas A-26B INVADER ?
  ?   ?

 T   
A-26B-51-DL (44-34323)
(c/n 27602)
Philippines, 1945
-		  ?  "-"
A-26B-51-DL (44-34297)
(c/n 27576)
(13th BS, 3rd BG) lost 2/21/51 when bomb  exploded prematurely on bomb run
 E  "-"
A-26B-51-DL (44-34298)
(c/n 27577)
San José, Mindoro (Philippines),
July 1945		 -

 

 

 

 

19th Bomb Group
1942 (battle scarred from Philippines & Java)

28th Bomb Squadron

435th Squadron
'The Kangaroo Squadron'
(Ex 40th Recon. Squadron)

30th Bomb Squadron

 93rd Bomb Squadron

-

-

-

 -

 

 

 

 

22nd Bomb Group
 "Red Raiders"
-

2nd Bomb Squadron
 

19th Bomb Squadron
 "Silver Fleet"

33rd Bomb Squadron
"Docile Dragon"

408th Bomb Squadron
-
       
The 22nd Bomb Group was created at Langley Field in Virginia on 1 February 1940.
At this time it was equipped with B-18 and B-25. In 1941 it was transformed on B-26.
1941   -   B-18 & B-25   -   Langley Field, Virginia, USA
- - - -
In February 1942 it was transferred to Hawaï and in March 1942 it arrived in Australia.
1942, March   -   Martin B-26 MARAUDER  -   Iron Range, NSW, Australia
It effectued its first war mission, an attack against Rabaul, on 5 April 1942.
- -
B-26-MA
from 33rd Bomb Squadron,
Iron Range, October 1942		  
During 1942 and 1943 it attacked enemy ships, installations, troop concentrations and airfields in New-Guinea.
For those actions it received two Distinguished Unit Citation.
During this time it was still based in Australia and on 9 October 1943 it moved to Dobodura in New-Guinea.
1943   -   North American B-25 MITCHELL  -   Australia, NSW
- - (41-30324)
Crashed during take-off into 
parked aircraft at Garbutt aerodrome
 on 17 July 1943		 -
1943, October 9   -   North American B-25D MITCHELL   -   Dobodura, New-Guinea

B-25D-10
from 2nd Bomb Squadron,
Dobodura, October 1943
B-26-MA
from 19th Bomb Squadron
Dobodura, December 1943		 - -

2nd Bomb Squadron

19th Bomb Squadron

33rd Bomb Squadron

408th Bomb Squadron
1944   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Nadzab, New-Guinea
The 22nd Bomb Group attacked airfields, ships and oil raffineries in Borneo and in September 1944 they began raids against the Philippines.
During this time they were still based in New-Guinea and in November 1944 they moved to the Philippines.
- "Shoo Shoo Baby"
B24J-65-CO (42-100084)
Owi Island in early 1944		 (41-100292)
 Crashed into the sea near Innisfail (28 Feb`44)
pilot was George E. Nellis.		 -
- -
 119 
B-24J-135-CO (42-110119)
Nadzab, February 1944 (?)


 984 
B24J-160-CO (42-109984)
Nadzab, February 1944
1944, November   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Samar, Philippines
The "Red Raiders" shield started appearing on the Group's LIBERATORs in late 1944 onwards, and the shield color was not surprisingly, bright red.

 723 
B-24J-175-CO (44-0723)
Samar, beginning of 1945		 - -

-
1945   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Okinawa
At the end of the war the 22nd BG was based in Okinawa.
-
 9855 
B-24L-15-FO (44-49855)
Okinawa, July 1945		 - -

 

 

 

 

38th Bomb Group
"Sun Setters"
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)

70th Bomb Squadron
(Transfered out early in the war)

71st Bomb Squadron
"The Wolf Pack"

405th Bomb Squadron
 "The Green Dragons"

822nd Bomb Squadron
 "The Black Panthers"

823rd Bomb Squadron
 "The Terrible Tigers"
       
       
1942   -   Australia
(B-25's not operational yet)
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 1943.
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.
  -
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.

''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.-.....)
1945, January   -   North American B-25G MITCHELL   -   Philippines
- - - -
1945, July   -   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-10 (43-28145)
Okinawa, July 1945
B-25J-20 (44-29358)
condemned salvage 23 Aug 1945
-		 - -
The 38th Bomb Group received three Distinguished Unit Citations:
1) For having bombarded Japanese troops and fortifications in November 1943 in preparation of the landing on Cap Gloucester
2) For two missions realised on 16 and 17 June 1944 against enemy airfields and ships on New-Guinea
3) For attacking an important enemy troop convoy in Ormoc Bay in November 1944

 

 

 

 

43rd Bomb Group
"Ken`s Men"

63rd Bomb Squadron

64th Bomb Squadron

65th Bomb Squadron

403rd Bomb Squadron
The 43rd Bomb Group was transferred to the 5th USAAF in February-March 1942; at this time it was equipped with B-17.
1942, March   -   Consolidated B-17E FLYING FORTRESS   -   Australia and then from New-Guinea
It operated first from Australia and then from New-Guinea.
It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation during the Battle of the Bismarck Sea (2-4 March 1943).
It attacked ennemy airfields and ground installations in the South-West Pacific,
supported allied troops in New-Guinea and attacked oil raffineries in Borneo.

"Monkey Bizz Ness"
B-17E (41-2417)
Sydney (Australia), May 1942.
This plane was lost on 6 July 1942.
 Fate: Scrapped 1944 (?)
-
-
"Taxpayers Pride"
B-17F (41-24448)
Port Moresby (New-Guinea),
end of 1942.
This plane was shot down by Japanese nightfighters after a bombardment on Rabaul
"Yankee Didd'ler"
B-17E (41-2458)
1942-43
-
-
-
-		  
Between May and September 1943 it was transformed on B-24.
1943, September   -   Consolidated B-24 LIBERATOR   -   New-Guinea
- - - -
1944, November   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Philippines
In November 1944, the 43rd was transferred to the Philippines.
From there it attacked ships along the Asian coast, usines and airfields in China and on Formosa and supported ground troops on Luçon.
- - -
B-24J-160-CO (44-40411)
Tacloban, Leyte, November 1944
1945   -   Consolidated B-24M LIBERATOR   -   Luçon, Philippines
Early 1945  -  Over the Philippines, the fins were painted with a blue vertical stripe followed by 13 red & white stripes

63rd Bomb Squadron

64th Bomb Squadron

65th Bomb Squadron

403rd Bomb Squadron

"Out of the Night II"
B-24M-1-CO  (44-41809)
Clark Fields (Philippines), May 1945
B-24H (42-?)
Philippines, 1945
-
B-24M-20-CO  (44-42246)
Luçon (Philippines), May 1945
-		 -
1945, July   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Ie Shima
From July 1945 on, it was based on Ie Shima and attacked airfields, railway lines and ships in Japan.
-
''Cocktail Hour''
B-24J-160-CO (44-40428)
Ie Shima, May(?) 1945		 - -
-
''The Dragon and his Tail''
B-24J-190-CO (44-40973)
Ie Shima 1945 		- -
1945   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Iwo Jima

 

 

 

 

90th Bomb Group
"The Jolly Rogers"
-

319th Bomb Squadron
"Asterperious"

320th Bomb Squadron
"Moby Dick"

321st Bomb Squadron
"Bombs Away"

400th Bomb Squadron
"Black Pirate"
       
The 90th Bomb Group was created at Key Field (Mississippi) on 28 January 1942.
It was transferred to Barksdale Field (Lousiane) in May 1942 and began training on B-24.
On 12 September 1942 it was send to Hickam Fields (Hawaï) and at beginning of November 1942 it arrived in Australia where it was immediately engaged in raids against Rabaul.

1942, November   -   Consolidated B-24D-15-CO LIBERATOR   -   Australia

"Lady Millie 3"
B-24D-5-CO (41-23753)
Port Moresby, beginning of 1943 ??
Fate: Crashed on takeoff at Fenton Airfield, NT, Australia Mar 2, 1942.
Crew of 8 killed		 - - -
On 10 February 1943 it moved to Port Moresby. Around this time it took the nickname "Jolly Rogers" because their commander was Colonel Rogers.

1943, February 10   -   Consolidated B-24D-15-CO LIBERATOR   -   Post Moresby, New Guinea
- -
''Will`s War Wagon''
B-24D-15-CO (41-..)
-
-
-
-		 ''?''
B-24D-5-CO (41-23765)
Fate: To RFC at Altus, OK
Oct 17, 1945.
1943, Summer   -   painted the bars to the star and applied red surrounding for short time shortly after
 
''?''
B-24D-135-CO (42-41127)
Note: White bars only,
Port Moresby, July 1943
Fate: ?		 -
"Gone with the Wind"
B-24D-25-CO (41-24286)
White bars only, 1944 ?
Fate: Salvaged in USA
after 123 missions
 
"Moby Dick"
B-24D-15-CO (41-24047)
Fate: Salvaged Stillwater, OK.
Disposed of Oct 1945		 - -

1943, December   -   Consolidated B-24D LIBERATOR   -   Dobodura, New Guinea
In December 1943 it moved to Dobodura.
- B-24D-15-CO (41-24077)
(90th BG, 320th BS)
Fate: Lost Apr 16, 1943 in attack
on convoy near Wewak.
Crashed 30 miles South of
Bena Bena.
Located in 1995 near Okapa village, Eastern Highlands, PNG.
"Betsy"
B-24D-170-CO (42-72956)
late 1943
Fate: ?		  

1944   -   Consolidated B-24 LIBERATOR   -   South Pacific

"Yankee Doodle Dandy"
B-24D-30-CO (42-40077)
Port Moresby, April 1944
Fate: Shot down by fighters on bombing mission to Hollandia,
Dutch New Guinea Apr 12, 1944.
All crew killed. Date of Mar 6, 1944 also quoted, MACR 4926		 -
"Tokio Express"
B-24D-15-CO (41-24074)
1944
Fate: Salvaged in USA
(90th BG, 319th BS ??)
-
-
-		 -
 During September and October 1944 it attacked oil raffineries on Borneo.
Later in 1944, the entire forward fin was painted in the squadron color and only the last figures of the serialnumber applied.
-
''?''
B-24D-1..-CO (4.-.407)
1944
-		 -
"Sky Witch"
B-24D-160-CO (42-72815)
Biak, November 1943
1944 ??
1945, January   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   San José, Mindoro, Philippines
In January 1945, the 90th moved to San José on Mindoro Island in order to support allied troops on Luçon.
It also attacked industrial targets on Formosa and railways, airfields and harbors in Indochina and China.
Early 1945  -  Over the Philippines, the fins were painted with a blue vertical stripe followed by 13 red & white stripes

  337  ''Queen Mae''
B-24J-155-CO (44-40337)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 053  "Old Iron Sides"
B-24J-130-CO (4.-..053)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 193  "Booby Trap"
B-24J-150-CO (44-40193)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
 721  "?"
B-24J-175-CO (44-40721)
 July(?) 1945
Fate: Crew fourced to bail out while returning from mission to IndoChina when ran out of gas returning to McGuire May 27, 1945, SW Pacific. Crew picked up by a Catalina,
but two of the crew were lost.
MACR 14523
-
 ??  "?"
B-24J (4.-.....)
-
-
 229  RS: "Form 1A"
LS: "The Harry S. Truman"
B-24J-150-CO (44-40229)
1945		 -
1945, August 10   -   Consolidated B-24J LIBERATOR   -   Ie Shima
On 10 August 1945 it moved to Ie Shima and concluded the war by flying reconnaissance missions over Japan.
- -
 450  "Jaspers Jokers"
B-24M-35-CO (44-42450)
1945		 -

 

 

 

 

312th Bomb Group
-

?

386th Bomb Squadron

?

387th Bomb Squadron

388th Bomb Squadron

389th Bomb Squadron
Clubs Diamonds Hearts Spades
1943, December (late)   -   Curtiss P-40   -   New Guinea
The 312th began its operation on New-Guinea a little time after Christmas 1943.
At the beginning it was equipped with P-40 and used for patrol and escort missions.
Nothing is known about the markings of those P-40.
 ?   ?   ?   ? 
1944, February   -   Douglas A-20G/H HAVOC   -   Gusap, New Guinea
In February 1944 it was transformed on A-20G and H and was based at Gusap in New-Guinea.

At some time, many aircraft in this group wore the distinctive skull & bones noseart painted around the holes for the guns.
Further each squadron had one of the suits of a playing cards deck painted on the side.

 P  "Little Brat"
 A-20G-25-DO (43-409041)
Gusap, April 1944
 V  "?"
A-20G-25-DO (43-9432)
387th Bomb Squadron, 1944
 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.		 -
-  ? 
A-20G-20-DO (42-86772)
 (312th BG, 387th BG) lost Apr 16, 1945, SWAPC. MACR 13320
Another source says:
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.
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		 - -
1945, January   -   Douglas A-20G/H HAVOC   -   Floridablanca on Luçon Island, Philippines
- - -
 L  "Ravin Rachael"
A-20G-25-DO (43-9126)
Floridablanca (Luçon), May 1945.
This plane effectued more than 170 missions.
- - -
 T  "Little Joe"
A-20G-20-DO (43-21475)
Philippines, January 1945
1945, June   -   Floridablanca on Luçon Island, Philippines
In June 1945, the 386th and 387th Squadrons received the B-32 DOMINATOR.
Consolidated B-32 DOMINATOR Douglas A-20G/H HAVOC

"The Lady is Fresh"
B-32-20-CF (42-108529)
Floridablanca (Luçon), May 1945		 - - -

"Hobo Queen"
B-32-20-CF (42-108532)
Okinawa, end of August 1945		 - - -
At the end of the war the 312nd was based at Floridablanca on Luçon Island.

 

 

 

 

345th Bomb Group
 "Air Apaches"
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
 "Falcons"

499th Bomb Squadron
 "Bats outa Hell"

500th Bomb Squadron
 "Rough Raiders"

501th Bomb Squadron
 "Black Panthers"
       
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 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 she was also seen totally painted-over.

''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 (41-30068)
Robert C. Van Ausdell
Nadzab 1944		 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		 -

"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.
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
- ''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), NG
MACR 16180 - All 6 crew KIA.
External Link
1944   -   North American B-25G & H MITCHELL   -   Nadzab , south eastern New Guinea

''Clana Louise''
B-25H-1 (43-4345)		 - - -
1944, October  -   North American B-25G MITCHELL   -   Biak, north-western New Guinea
-
B-25G-5 (42-64809)		 - -
1944, October  -   North American B-25J MITCHELL   -   Philippines
Around October 1944 they moved from Guinea to the Philippines.
Note: Apache-head on the fin from now on.

B-25H-10 (44-4899)
-
-
-
"Chowhound Junior"
B-25J-20 (44-29606)
-
-		 -
"Lazy Daisy Mae"
B-25J-11- NC (44-29012)
First American aircraft to land on Philippine soil, 28 October 1944
1945, January   -   North American B-25J MITCHELL   -   Tacloban, Leyte, Philippines
-
''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.		 -
''Reina Del Pacifico''
 B-25J-11- NC (4.-..020)
Tacloban, Leyte, January 1945
- - -
''Apache Princess''
 B-25J-11- NC (4.-..152)
Tacloban, Leyte, January 1945
1945, April   -   North American B-25J MITCHELL   -   Clark Field, Luzon, Philippines

''Lady Lil''
B-25J-20-NC (44-29577)
Lt. Albert J. Beiga
Clark Field, Philippines 1945
Fate: To reclamation 10 Jul 1949
''?''
B-25J-20-NC (44-29600)
-
-
Fate: To reclamation 13- Jul 1949
''?''
B-25J-30-NC (44-31360)
-
Luçon, beginning of 1945
-		  

''Toofies's Taxi''
B-25J-22-NC (44-29655)
Luçon, April 1945
Fate: Condemned salvage
16 Apr 1945
-
"Dirty Dora II"
B-25D-3-NA (41-30276)
Luçon, 1945
This is a composite plane:
It has the fuselage of a B-25D,
 but the nose of a B-25J		 - -

''Jaunty Jo''
B-25J-20-NC (44-29192)
-		 - - -

B-25J-20-NC (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.
Airworthy at Rialto, CA as N9117Z "In the Mood".
Used in filming of *Pearl Harbor*		 - - -
1945   -   North American B-25J MITCHELL   -   Okinawa
They finally entered the battle of Okinawa, where they supported the invasion.

B-25J-20-NC (44-29115)
-
B-25J-25-NC (44-29931)
July 1945		 - -

B-25J-20-NC (44-29226)
Red Falcon??, white stripe?
-
''My Dutchess''
B-25J-11-NC  (4.-..147)
Philippines 1945		 - -
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

 

 

 

 

380th Bomb Group (H)
 "The Flying Circus"
The 380th came to call themselves The Flying Circus, and in their early days were controlled by RAAF Command,
flying with composite US and Australian aircrews.
The 380th was based in Northern Territory, Australia, from May 1943 through February 1945.
At that time, the Group moved to Murtha Strip, San Jose, Mindoro Island, The Philippines.
There they joined the rest of the 5th Air Force in attacks on Formosa, Indo China, Japanese areas of The Philippines, and on China itself.

528th Bomb Squadron
HERKY

529th Bomb Squadron
 LITTLE BEAVER

530th Bomb Squadron
BUGS BUNNY

531st Bomb Squadron
DONALD DUCK
1942, April-May  -   Consolidated B-24D LIBERATOR   -   Australia
The 380th Bomb Group was created in the USA in 1942 with personnel comming from the 39th Bomb Group.
It arrived in Australia in April-May 1943.
During June it effectued some armed reconnaissances together with the 90th Bomb Group in order to get familiarised.
The 380th began its first raid during July 1943 and on 13 August its most sensational raid when it attacked the oil raffiniers in Borneo.
For its actions against Borneo on 13, 15 and 17 Augusts it received a Presidential Unit Citation.
In August 1943 it attacked nickel raffineries in Celebes.
During the fall of 1943 it attacked oil raffineries and harbors in Java and ships in Indonesia.
- - -  
1943, December - 1944, January   -   Consolidated B-24D LIBERATOR   -   Dobodura, New Guinea
From the 4 December 1943 until 4 January 1944 it was based temporary in Dobodura and supported the landings on Cape Gloucester.
-
''The Big Ass Bird''
B-24J-10-CO (42-73113)
 end of 1943		 -  
1944, March  -   Consolidated B-24D LIBERATOR   -   Nadzab, New Guinea
From the 28 February until 8 March 1944, the 380th was temporary stationned at Nadzab in order to support opperations in New-Guinea.

''Gypsy''
B-24D-135-CO (42-41133)
This plane crashed while taking-off at Nadzab in March 1944		 -
B-24D-145-CO (42-41214)
South-West Pacific
lost Jan 13, 1944, MACR 2628		 -

''Carot Top''
B-24J-10-CO (42-73114)
Fate: Crashed and burned near
Mindoro Mar 6, 1945.
''Maid in the USA''
B-24J-180-CO (44-40776)
380BG, 529BS
-		 - -
1944, March  -   Consolidated B-24D LIBERATOR   -   Nadzab, New Guinea
In April and May 1944 it was involved in the attacks against the airfields in Wadke and Hollandia, for this mission it received a second Presidential Unit Citation. Until the end of 1944 it attacked ennemy bases, installations and shipping in Indonesia.

''The K.O Kid''
B-24J-135-CO (42-41133)
Darwin (Australia), December 1944		 -
''On De-Fense''
B-24J-125-CO (42-109995)
December 1944
''Milady''
B-24J-15-CO (42-73134)
December 1944
1945, February   -   Consolidated B-24M LIBERATOR   -   San José, Mindoro (Philippines)
In February 1945, it was transferred to Mindoro in the Philippines,
for the first time it was under the operation control of the 5th Bomber Command.
 The 380th supported allied troops in the Philippines and attacked airfields, naval bases and industrial installations on Formosa.

''Flak Fled Flapper''
B-24J-160-CO (44-40434)
San José, Mindoro (Philippines), March 1945		 -
''Rough Night''
B-24J-80-CO (42-100209)
February 1945
-
''Toddy''
B-24J-80-CO (42-100226)
1945, February
-
...one of several M model Liberators which entered service with the 380th Bombardment Group in May 1945.
Note: For whatever reason, the 380 BG removed the black quarters of the fin for the different squadrons and introduced little characters instead.
Why these were choosen and do not match the squadron's mascots of the badges is not known to me!??
''Virgin Aboard''
B-24M-15-CO (44-50941)
380BG, 528BS
Owi Island, June 1945		 -
"Dotties Double"
B-24J-1-CO (42-72964)
March 1945
''Toddy''
B-24J-80-CO (42-100226)
1945, June
This plane has the emblem of the squadron on its left side.

''Angel in de Skies''
B-24J-185-CO (44-40923)
Mindoro, May 12,  1945
Missions: 68 AU/NG
+ 42 PH = 110
Fate: Abandoned (out of gas)
Murtha Field, Mindoro, Philippines		 - - -

''Rangy Lil''
B-24M-5-CO (44-41867)
Fate: ACFH-RFC		 - - -
1945, June 1945   -   Consolidated B-24M LIBERATOR   -   San José, Mindoro (Philippines)
In June 1945, 380BG was placed under operational control of the 13th USAAF in order to support the landings on Borneo.
After those raids they flew the last missions of the war against Formosa.
? ?    
-
''I'll Be Seeing You''
B-24J-185-CO (44-40923)
San José Mindoro, October 1945
-
-
''Double Trouble''
B-24M-5-FO (44-50602)
380BG, 530BS,  1945
Fate: Salvaged at Kingman,
AZ Nov 1, 1945
''Shy Shy Baby''
B-24J-185-CO (44-40920)
August 1945
-
-
External link: http://380th.org/

 

 

 

 

417th Bomb Group
For some missions it used three rocket launchers similar to bazooka under each wing,
 but since this equipment was heavy and unrealiable it was rarely used.

672nd Bomb Squadron

?

673rd Bomb Squadron

?

674th Bomb Squadron

?

675th Bomb Squadron
       
1944, January   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   New Guinea
The 417th Bomb Group arrived in January 1944 and began its operation in March.
It supported troops in New-Guinea by attacking airfields, ennemy troops concentrations, bridges and ships.
- - - -
1944, September   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   Noemfoor
It operated from Noemfoor between September and December 1944.

 J  "PiZ-DoFF"
A-20G-45-DO (43-22154)
-		 -
 P  "My Joy"
A-20G (43-...)
Noemfoor, summer 1944
 P  ''Green Hornet''
A-20G-25-DO (43-9407)
SW Pacific, 1944

 L  "The Kitten"
A-20G-40-DO L (43-21475)
1944		 - - -
1944, December   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   Philippines
It moved to the Philippines in December 1944 and supported the operations in this area until June 1945
by attacking airfields, transports and installations.
It received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its attack against a Japanese naval convoy at Lingayen between 30 Dec 1944 and 2 Jan 1945.
- - - -
1944, December   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   Luzon, Philippines
In July 1945 the 417th launched propagand tracts on Japanese troops at Luçon.
- - - -
1945, August   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   Okinawa
It was transferred to Okinawa in August 1945
- - - -
1945, November   -   Douglas A-20G HAVOC   -   Japan
It was transferred then to Japan in November 1945 where it was disbanded on 15 November 1945.
- - - -
1945, November 15   -   Disbanded in Japan

 

 

 

 

References
USAAF - Serial numbers collection by Joseph F. Baugher

 

 

 

 

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