P-61 Black Widow

[Dave Fish]

I recently received some interesting WWII information from a VMB-611 vet in reference to MAGSZAM (MAGs 12, 24, 32), Moret Field, Zamboanga, Mindanao, PI.

He said there were upwards to 300 airplanes at Zamboanga, all Marine with a few exceptions. One of these exceptions was a nightfighter squadron with 6 or so P-61 Black Widows. He did not identify the squadron, but did identify a Major Bob Tyler as the Commanding Officer.

In a web search, I found that several Black Widow Night Fighter squadrons served in the Philippines; 418th, 419th, 421st, 547th, and 550th. None were specifically identified as serving at Zamboanga.

I also found that there are some P-61s on display and/or in restoration, mainly the National Museum of the USAF and the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum.

Does anyone have additional information on what squadron may have been at Zamboanga and the status of these existing warbirds?

[Django]

This is the MAAM site, and probably the most exciting place to look.

http://www.maam.org/p61.html

Otherwise, do a search here for P-61. You'll find pics of the NASM bird from fairly recently. I think there are also some threads here on the P-61 in Bejing on display.

[Old SAR pilot]

Dave,

According to Wikpedia, the 419th was at Zamboanga, at this site:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Balikpapan_(1945)

Also this site - in Spanish - has a neat in-flight pic of P-61s:

http://www.portierramaryaire.com/fichas ... idow_4.php

[Jack Cook]

44th FS P-38Ls buzzing the 419th NFS area at Zamboanga, PI 8-45.
The 44th FS was also based there.

[mustangdriver]

Wow! What a photo!

[gregv]

nice shot!

Is that a Beaufighter or a B-25 in the middle of the pic? Whatever it is it looks like its undergoing some serious maintenance or it is being stripped for parts.

cheers

greg v.

[Mike]

Probably an RAAF Beaufighter, they were operated in the area.

[Jack Cook]

It's a stripped B-25 on pallets with a FM-2 next to it and a B-24 a little farther down the line.

[gregv]

thanks Jack

looking at it closer you can see the B-25 cowls fairly clearly. I gotta ask how you know about the FM-2 and the '24, though; bionic eyes, FBI photo enhancer, or another pic of the same strip?

cheers

greg v.

[Mudge]

Jack...you are incredible. If we made a list of the airplanes you do have pictures of, and the ones you don't, I'm pretty sure we know which would be shorter.

Mudge the amazed

ps. Did you know that "The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga"?

Last edited by Mudge on Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:19 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

I scanned the original at 600dpi has a tiff file. Amazing what you can see.
BTW the lead P-38 is Lt Chuck Shallenberger in "Phillie Baby"
who lives in the SF bay area

Last edited by Jack Cook on Sat Mar 17, 2007 7:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

Chuck's "Phillie Baby"

[Dave Fish]

thanks Jack

looking at it closer you can see the B-25 cowls fairly clearly. I gotta ask how you know about the FM-2 and the '24, though; bionic eyes, FBI photo enhancer, or another pic of the same strip?

cheers

greg v.

Fantastic, you guys are great! With each contact, I learn more about my father's VMB-611 squadron. The P-38's buzzing Zamboanga was, of course, after my father was lost. By early August 1945, most of the original 611 flight crews had rotated out with replacement crews. Also by that time, 611's PBJs were pretty battle worn.

Additional information from my 611 vet includes him saying: There was a WX recon flight USAAF with a couple of B-24's, a rescue flight with several lifeboat carrying B-17's as well as a full squadron of P-38's who operated from Zambo for several weeks before moving down towards Borneo.

He also identified Lt Col Bob Dow who commanded the P-38's. He said that after the war he flew a lot with both Bob Tyler (B-26) and Bob Dow (T-33).

WOW!!

[Dave Fish]

ps. Did you know that "The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga"?

OK, I also have a story behind this one from several VMB-611 vets. I take it for truth as they were there. Several may have seen the photos of Moret Field with a "Japanese Zero tail section" with the caption "They have no tails in Zamboanga."

I asked, and was told, that the saying was not because, nor had anything to do with, the photo or no Zero's at Moret Field when it was captured from the Japanese. I was told that "The monkeys have no tails in Zamboanga" was in reference to the Moro natives. Take it for what it's worth.

[Dave Fish]

Zamboanga (Moret Field) Recon photo, March 8, 1945