P-61 Black Widow

[Bill Greenwood]

I heard a story about P-61 s being scrapped. Friday I flew my Bonanza to Col Springs for the annual. Peolple from all over the country come to Pearce Aircraft for Beech service, the owner Ken has been doing it for decades. He is ex WWII and I was tellin him about the AF museum. He told me in 1949 he spent a year in Japan, they removed instruments, and other equiptment from front line P-61s before before they were sold to Japenese scrap dealers to be melted down. They were considered surplus because the U S had the F-82. Sad

[Craig59]

Here's a picture of the famous Zamboanga sign, circa 1945, taken by my father. Dad was a PBJ pilot with VMB-433.

[Dave Fish]

Here's a picture of the famous Zamboanga sign, circa 1945, taken by my father. Dad was a PBJ pilot with VMB-433.

Craig, Thanks for sharing this photo, I would like to add it to my collection. I have a question and correct me if I am wrong, but it is my understanding that VMB-433, as did the other VMB squadrons on Emirau, left MAG-61 and was assigned to Malabang towards the end of the war. Did your Dad take this photo during a stop-over or visit to Moret Field or did 433 spend a period of time at Zamboanga? Just wondering.

[tom d. friedman]

widows worked out of morotai too. my dad & his troops were quite the fans of the night time entertainment!!

[Craig59]

Did your Dad take this photo during a stop-over or visit to Moret Field or did 433 spend a period of time at Zamboanga? Just wondering.

Dave,

My copy of Dad's logbook shows one stopover to Zamboanga in mid September, 1945 while based at Malabang. He missed the initial move there from Emirau as he and another pilot were trading a PBJ-1D for a new PBJ-1J. They left Emirau on July 25th arriving at Ewa on the 28th.

They then departed Ewa on August 8th and arrived back at Emirau on the 14th to find their squadron gone. They finally rejoined VMB-433 at Malabang on the 28th having learned along the way of the Japanese surrender.

Next time I speak with him I'll ask if there were any other trips to Zamboanga. He did tell me he believes this photo of him with his hand on a 38...uh... P-38... was taken there. Enjoy!

[Jack Cook]

That 44th FS P-38L looks familar

[Craig59]

Jack,

If you have further information on "Rough and Dirty, Jr., I'd love to know about it so I can include it in my album. Thanks!

Last edited by Craig59 on Sun Mar 18, 2007 10:17 am, edited 1 time in total.

[mustangdriver]

Those are great pics, thanks for posting them.

[Chris Brame]

He told me in 1949 he spent a year in Japan, they removed instruments and other equipment from front line P-61s before they were sold to Japenese scrap dealers to be melted down. They were considered surplus because the U S had the F-82.

Bill, did he say where in Japan this was? In late '48 - early '49 my dad was stationed at a base in Bofu that had what he said was the last active P-61 squadron in the Air Force:



The F-82 part makes sense, as he remembers seeing one there having a mock dogfight with an F-80 !