Thanks again for the nice comments from my previous posts. To continue my series I started a few days ago, I have here some stuff from 1944, no particular order.
All photos, unless otherwise noted are from the U.S.F.G.
Just remember. I ain't no Jack Cook!
A Naval Aircraft Factory OS2N-1 Kingfisher floatplane (BuNo 01491 or 01401, a licence-built Vought OS2U) is lowered onto its catapult cradle after a flight, aboard the U.S. Navy battleship USS Missouri (BB-63), during her shakedown period in the summer of 1944. Note the Mark 51 director and its associated 40 mm quad gun mount at left.
A U.S. Navy Vought F4U-1A Corsair (BuNo 17656) of Fighting Squadron VF-17 Jolly Rogers pictured on Nissan Island, Green Island Group, after making an emergency landing there. The airstrip had not yet been completed when the aircraft arrived. Date March 1944 -
U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-16 off the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) pictured over Dublon and Eten Island en route to strike Japanese installations at Truk, 17-18 February 1944. VB-16 operated from Lexington during the period September 1943-June 1944, and was for a time one of only two Dauntless squadrons assigned to Pacific fleet carriers. The squadron also participated in the famous attack against the Japanese Fleet during the Battle of the Philippine Sea in June 1944.
U.S. Navy ordnancemen on the flight deck of an unidentified escort carrier, prepare 12.7 cm High Velocity Aircraft Rockets (HVAR) and 227 kg bombs for loading onto Grumman TBM-3 Avenger torpedo bombers. Date circa 1944.
Pilot Capt. John F. Adams, USMC, of U.S. Marine Corps dive bomber scouting squadron VMSB-231 is standing on the wing of his Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless plane at Dalop Island, Majuro Atoll, Marshall-Islands, in August 1944.
U.S. Navy Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver of Bombing Squadron VB-7 in flight off Formosa. VB-7 operated from the aircraft carrier USS Hancock (CV-19) during the period from September 1944 to January 1945, and participated in the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. Note the nickname "Satans Angel" beneath the cockpit and the horeshoe tail symbol, which identified the fact that the aircraft was assigned to USS "Hancock". The aircraft carries a twin machine gun pack under the wing. -
A North American PBJ-1D Mitchell of U.S. Marine Corps bombing squadron VMB-611 in flight. Established at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina (USA), in November 1943, VMB-611 trained on the U.S. East and West Coasts before aircraft and personnel boarded ships for transport to the Pacific theater. During 1945, the squadron operated from Emerau Island and Moret Field at Zamboanga, Mindanao, Philippine Islands, flying PBJ Mitchell medium bombers, one of seven Marine Corps squadrons to operate the type. The squadron was disestablished in November 1945. Date 1944/45 -
A U.S. Navy Douglas BD-2 at Naval Air Station South Weymoth, Massachusetts (USA). Note the Daisy Mae nose art and the squadron designation for Experimental Squadron 2 (VX-2). The U.S. Navy procured its first example of the aircraft in 1941, when a single XF-3 photo-reconnaissance aircraft was transfered from the U.S. Army Air Corps for evaluation. This aircraft received the designation BD-1 and the Navy subsequently received eight A-20B-DLs under the desgination BD-2. With the provision for offensive and defensive armament removed, these aircraft were employed for target towing and general utility duties. Date circa 1944 -
P-51D-15-NA Mustang 44-15092 "Lulu Belle II" of 352d Fighter Squadron, 353rd Fighter Group, at RAF Raydon, England, being recovered after a landing accident while being flown by Lt. Everett B. Bowron. It was originally named "Alabama Rammer Jammer" and assigned to Lt. Arthur C. Cundy (KIA March 11,1945). Date 1944 -
North American's B-25G Mitchell from the AAF TAC Center, Orlando Florida. April 17, 1944. The crew of the B-25G was five--pilot, copilot, navigator/cannoneer, upper turret gunner, and radio operator. Since there was no bombardier, the pilot fired the nose armament and released the bombs. The radio operator also doubled as the ventral turret gunner when this turret was fitted. Additional armor was fitted forward of the instrument panel, forward of the loader's station, around the 75-mm ammunition rack, and below the windshield. An external flak plate was fitted below the cockpit on the left hand side of the aircraft.
A U.S. Army Air Forces Martin B-26B-55-MA Marauder (s/n 42-96142). The aircraft was assigned to the 596th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group,98th Bomb Wing, 9th Bomber Command, 9th Air Force in Europe. "X2-A" was named "Dee Feater" and carries numerous mission markers, and D-Day invasion stripes. The 397th BG was stationed starting 15 April 1944 at Rivenhall, Essex (UK), and moved to Hurn, Hampshire, on 4 August 1944. On 30th August 1944 the Group was relocated to France.
A U.S. Army Air Forces Crew chief and assistant pull the propeller through on a Republic P-47D Thumderbolt (CH-U, "Chunky") to clear the lower cylinders of excess oil prior to engine start. This aircraft was assigned the 365th Fighter Squadron, 358th Fighter Group at High Halden (RAF station 411), Kent (UK), sometime in June 1944. The 358th FG was based at the High Halden Advanced Landing Ground between April and mid-July 1944, before moving on to Cretteville (A-14), France.
P-47 fighter-bomber pilots at a rough airstrip near St. Mere Eglise on June 15, 1944. By the end of August, all 18 of the 9th Air Force’s fighter-bomber and four of its medium bomber groups were based on the continent. (U.S. Air Force photo) -
C-47 of the 310st Troop Carrier Squadron Serial 42-9308 at RAF Merryfield, England, 1944
P-47 Thunderbolts from the 318th Fighter Group taking off from East Field on Saipan, Marianas Islands in October 1944. Lead ship: "Big Squaw" Republic-Evansville P-47D-20-RA Thunderbolt s/n 43-25327 19th FS, 318th FG, 7th AF Assigned to John "Jack" H. Payne. -
"Big Hairy Bird" B-26B-55-MA Marauder Serial number 42-96165 599th Bomb Squadron, 397th Bomb Group, 9th Air Force Taken 1 December 1944
Crew members of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress "Hollowood Commando" of the 677th Bomb Squadron, 444th Bomb Group, XX Bomber Command, beside the plane at Kwanghan Airfield (A-3), China, 11 November 1944. -
That's Bout It.
Robbie
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