Warbird Information Exchange

A B-17 ditched off the coast of Zamboanga? Got more of the story? Moret Field consisted mostly of Marine squadrons and aircraft, but USAAF P-61s, B-17s, and B-24s were also attached there. I do not know much of their history or the role they played in Mindanao, especially of any losses.

VMB-611 lost a PBJ and four Marines in Sarangani Bay. Recovery not likely...no recovery of any aircraft from the ocean should be made if they contain the remains of their lost crew members.

However, there are numerous PBJs that were dumped into the ocean in Hawaii that, if possible, I would like to see recovered. I don't think that will ever happen.

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In Honor and Memory of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 611 "Black Seahorse" 1943-1945
Remembering 1st Lt Doit L Fish, MIA May 30, 1945 in PBJ-1J "MB 11"
Cherry Point - Parris Island - Emirau - Zamboanga

It was 40-3086, ditched on Dec 10, 1942. 14th Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group. It was on a mission to Vigan, North Luzon, and ran out of fuel returning to Del Monte.

Not to question your response, but I thought the Japanese held Zamboanga and the Del Monte airfields in 1942. Am I wrong in thinking what a B-17 whould be doing in the Southern Philippines during that time period?

_________________
In Honor and Memory of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 611 "Black Seahorse" 1943-1945
Remembering 1st Lt Doit L Fish, MIA May 30, 1945 in PBJ-1J "MB 11"
Cherry Point - Parris Island - Emirau - Zamboanga

Yes.

Del Monte fell in May of '42, following the surrender of Corregidor. The 14th and 93rd Bomb Squadrons were based there from from Dec. 5th to Dec. 20th, after which they moved to Australia. Del Monte continued to be used as a staging base for missions to Luzon, and for evacuation flights
to Australia up until the end of April.

The P-61 in China.

Thanks for the clarification. A little off-topic, but VMB-611 flew several strikes on Del Monte and I have a couple of photos from a book of them doing low-level attacks, which 611 did a lot of.

I am also working on a project using Google Earth to placemark all the locations VMB-611 was at during the war. I spent almost a whole day looking for the Del Monte plantation...they still have a runway today.

From a contact with a 611 vet, he provided me some recon photos of San Roque (later renamed Moret) Field, Zamboanga taken March 8, 1945. Of course, on March 10, elements of the Eighth Army including the 41st Division and Marine MAGs 12 & 32 assaulted and took Zamboanga and the airfield. VMB-611's Ground Echelon arrived March 17 after a 5-month voyage aboard the SS Zoella Lykes and the Flight Echelon with their PBJs arrived March 30 from Emirau, joining MAG 32 as part of MAGSZAM.

_________________
In Honor and Memory of Marine Bombing Squadron VMB 611 "Black Seahorse" 1943-1945
Remembering 1st Lt Doit L Fish, MIA May 30, 1945 in PBJ-1J "MB 11"
Cherry Point - Parris Island - Emirau - Zamboanga

Dave:

It occured to me well after I posted these messages that I said Dec. '42 instead of '41. So, your point is well taken and as I post this I'm enjoying a mouthful of crow. I guess I'd better start previewing my posts.

What about gate guards and pylon perchers? The Corsair on Airedales' avatar sure looks like the FG-1D at Sikorsky Mem. Airport in Stratford, Conn. How 'bout it Airedale?
There's a fairly complete PB4Y-2 under Lake Washington......

Canso42.

Hi ,

Any of the Japanese stuff rotting away in the pacific,Bettys Tonys, Jills ect. The Val and Rex at Fredricksburg Texas.All of the Navy hulks held hostage at Pensecola to name just a few.

Thanks Mike

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IF YOU CAN FIND IT WE CAN FIX IT

[quote="Dan Johnson II"]Alan Bunte's 4th FG P51B that he put in the lake south of Potsdamn the same day Duane Beeson went down to flak.

An original 4th bird would be like gold to me.

/quote]

Dan,

Certainly agree. After some research, we have identified the specific body of water into which he crashed.

Regards,

Shade Ruff

I would like to know if anybody knows of any Helldiver wrecks that have not yet been recovered.


Thanks, John

recoverable and intact B-24 from the 90th bomb group. 320th squadron