Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Fri Mar 29, 2024 4:14 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 4:29 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member

Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Posts: 7541
... right after the Japanese surrender in 1945.

Interesting to note the lineup of what look to be Ki-61's in good condition, as well as the airfield seems to be untouched. Not sure exactly where in Japan these photos were taken and the exact date, but it looks like those US Navy pilots were greeted with 'samurai swords' ... 8)
Also looks to have been a busy day with a B-24 belly landing and catching on fire. Never a dull moment.

Image
Photo of a lineup of Japanese planes in the distance, taken from under the wing of a PBY. Liked to know exactly where this airfield was.

Image
The photographer now panning to the right you see the Avenger and crew with their new swords raised.

Image
Panning further to the right just in time to catch a B-24 belly landing ...

Image
... and quickly catching on fire. Hopefully the crew all got out OK.

_________________
[Thread title is ridiculous btw]


Last edited by Mark Allen M on Sun Oct 30, 2016 4:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 4:44 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member

Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Posts: 7541
So now here's a photo for those of you who know your "Doolittle Raiders" stuff (of which I'm certainly no expert).
The photo below states: "Occupation of Japan, 1945. Doolittle Raid B-25 wreckage. Photographed at Sasebo, Japan, September 23, 1945, NARA

What do you's guys think? Believable or not so much? Could the Japanese have found some of Doolittle's aircraft ditched in China and brought it back to Japan?

Image

_________________
[Thread title is ridiculous btw]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 6:07 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 587
Great big star and meatball insignia there in the middle of the pile....


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sun Oct 30, 2016 9:06 pm 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jan 19, 2011 12:27 am
Posts: 5230
Location: Eastern Washington
To state the obvious: the markings are correct for a 1942 aircraft. Aside from capturing them in the Philippines...or perhaps downing one near Australia, I'm not sure where the Japanese would have found one with those markings.

It would be easier and far more practical to bring one back from China than
Australian or New Guinea.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 6:57 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Aug 16, 2005 10:22 am
Posts: 620
Location: VA, USA
Bringing some wreckage back to show off in Japan after the Raid certainly seems like something they might have done.

I wonder if there are other pictures made by occupiers that have serials visible.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:31 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 587
IIRC Lawson wrote in the end pages of TSOT that a returning POW told him that he had seen wreckage of the Ruptured Duck on display in Tokyo (?). The wreckage here appears to show a fuselage broken from the lower turret position aft to the tail.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 8:43 am 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Wed Jun 27, 2007 10:23 pm
Posts: 2319
Location: Atlanta, GA
I would say that the meatball insignia, the cutouts for the windows on what would be the side of the fuselage just aft of the bomb bay, and the cutout for the early style tail skid all make a compelling argument for a Doolittle B-25B. Will enjoy hearing what the others may add.

Ken

_________________
"Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves."


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 9:20 am 
Offline

Joined: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:54 am
Posts: 311
JohnB wrote:
To state the obvious: the markings are correct for a 1942 aircraft. Aside from capturing them in the Philippines...or perhaps downing one near Australia, I'm not sure where the Japanese would have found one with those markings.

It would be easier and far more practical to bring one back from China than
Australian or New Guinea.


The only B-25s in the Philippines were those from the Royce Mission and they all returned to Australia.
If it is a Doolittle B-25, I'd be curious as to why the well for the Bendix turret is exposed, given that the turrets were removed and the wells faired over prior to the mission. It could be wreckage from a 3rd BG B-25C shot down in one of the early missions to Lae, New Guinea in May of 1942, but by that time most 5th AF aircraft had the red center of the insignia painted over.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:30 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 587
Is that a STAR AND BAR national insignia extreme left center? And what aare those two oversized lunch boxes below it?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:35 am 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member

Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Posts: 7541
An interesting observation from another poster.

"It is known that wreckage of the Doolittle B-25B's that crash landed along the coast were put on display in Tokyo. Ted Lawson mentions it in his book, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, and said that the wreck of the Ruptured Duck was indeed put on display. The red star center is correct, as is the double fuselage window ahead of the insignia, another B feature. Also, there is no rounded tail bumper skid, but there is an opening for a retractable type that would only be correct for a B model. As the Doolittle Raid was the only operational use of the B-25B in the war, and earlier models saw no combat, the retractable tail skid is a key indicator. No other way for that feature to appear on wreckage found in Japan except the Doolittle Raid. I'd put better than even money on this being a Doolittle bird." ----- Michael Vorrasi

_________________
[Thread title is ridiculous btw]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 11:44 am 
Offline
Long Time Member
Long Time Member

Joined: Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm
Posts: 7541
Here's another 'find' post-war Japan. Did not know a P-51D became a guest of the Japanese during the war. Looks to say "Kansas City Kid"? Can't tell for sure.

Photo states: Occupation of Japan, 1945. Marine Private First Class Lisle E. Mell, Jr. inspects an Army P-51D Mustang in a hangar at the former Japanese Navy Air Base at Omura in Kyushu. The battered plane was discovered by occupation echelons of Marine Air Group 22. Photographed at Omura, Japan, by Lieutenant Battersby, September 29, 1945. Official U.S. Marine Corps Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

Image

_________________
[Thread title is ridiculous btw]


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:35 pm
Posts: 587
I'd go with KANSAS CITY KITTY....a 1944 movie which generated a ton of like-named nose art. Didn't see this variation on G-search.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 10:52 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!
User avatar

Joined: Sun Dec 03, 2006 7:43 pm
Posts: 1454
Location: Colorado
gemmer wrote:
JohnB wrote:
If it is a Doolittle B-25, I'd be curious as to why the well for the Bendix turret is exposed, given that the turrets were removed and the wells faired over prior to the mission.


The bottom section of the fuselage that houses the ventral turret is actually fully destroyed and not in the picture. The floor of the fuselage is destroyed from the station just in front of the rear fuselage hatch. What we see is the square hole for the fuselage hatch with the camera port just aft of the rear hatch.

Image

There is no question that this is the wreckage of a B-25B.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:51 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:29 pm
Posts: 4475
Location: Dallas, TX
That is a pretty cool find!

_________________
Aerial Photographer with Red Wing Aerial Photography currently based at KRBD and tailwheel CFI.
Websites: Texas Tailwheel Flight Training, DoolittleRaid.com and Lbirds.com.

The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD. - Prov. 21:31 - Train, Practice, Trust.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Nov 11, 2016 9:00 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 5:46 pm
Posts: 456
Location: Texas
Two questions if anyone can help; 1) did the tail skid retract 2) was the camera equipment installed on these aircraft?Thankyou.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 20 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google Adsense [Bot] and 88 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
cron
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group