Johnson Field, Japan 1946 ...

[Mark Allen M]

Somebody has to ask... What do the "VBC" letters mean?
Mark, thanks for posting these. Hope you can find more - anything from Itami, Itazuke or Bofu when my dad was there, would be appreciated, especially if you find any shots of Shirley (the F-6D in my sig below).

Chris PM Sent ...

[Mark Allen M]

Chris here's several more P-51's from the set ...

[The Inspector]

Wish there were other shots of that 499th 'Bats out of He ll' B-25, it's already had it's turret and it's nose gun array removed, being able to read the tail number would help identify it.

Thanx Mark, these are facinating peeks into a very brief point in the overall Pacific war, a sort of 'tweeie' time frame.

[Mark Allen M]

Really awesome photos Mark. Long time lurker here, have admired the photos you have posted. I don't suppose you could find some from the U.S.S Hornet in the '44 time period could you please? My great uncle was the commander of Air Group Two during that time period. Many thanks!

F6FFan

Sorry I didn't see your post. Yes I have several nice photos of Air Group Two aircraft. I'd be happy to post them for you. Can you add additional info on your great uncle? Many of us here would love to hear about his career. My father was on the Hornet with VF-11 just after your great uncles tour.

Mark

[F6FFan]

I'd be more than happy too. He graduated from the Naval Academy in '34 I believe, where his first assignment was to the U.S.S Arizona, then went on to the Navy Flight School at Pensacola, where after that he did some night flying off of the U.S.S Savannah with a hood on. Blind night flying if you will, before joining the U.S.S Enterprise (CV-6) on its first cruise.

Then after that, I believe he went to North Island around 1940 or so to become a Naval Test Pilot at Ford Island, where he was on December 7th 1941. Well, when the attack first happened, he was at his house by Diamond Head I believe. He saw the Japanese come in, and he hid under his car when he saw one of the Dive Bombers roll in a bit early and drop a bomb. I guess that makes him almost unofficially the first American attacked in the PTO! Then he went down and helped out in the Defense, and even took a shot at a B5N Kate using a BAR! The ironic thing was, he shot down one of the torpedo squadron commanders, something he later did on the Hornet before becoming Air Group Commander.

Then as I understand it, he was due to cruise on the U.S.S Enterprise when the war started, but when they got there with the Captain Miles Browning, the Air Group that was on it refused to serve with Captain Browning, so fate had it, they went on Hornet... Then from there, they went all over the Pacific, Guam, Palau, Phillipines, before he headed back Stateside in Sept. 44.

If you'd like to read more, we set up a blog with my great uncle's writings that we OCR'd.

http://adm-arnold.blogspot.com

F6FFan

[tom d. friedman]

wow!! pretty ballsy of an entire flight group to refuse their new commander!! this browning must have been a real usda rump roast for an officer!!

[F6FFan]

Indeed! He was a real pain in the you know where.. Get this, when they we getting ready to raid Palau, he made the air group start with the Avengers that were loaded with mines go first.. Problem with that was that the mines it had the effect of increasing the load... As a result they lost at least one crew due to Capt Brownings judgement on the order...

[DH82EH]

Thanks Mark,
for another awesome post. This is the kind of thing that brings out the best in WIX!
Great photos being analyzed by really knowledgeable enthusiasts, pointing out amazing details that many would just gloss over.

Thanks all

Andy Scott

[lmritger]

Oh. Em. Eff. Gee.

Mark, you continually find ways to exceed your previous highs. These are just amazing.

And guys, I am 98% sure this is Betty's Dream!!!! Look at the script on the noseart...

[The Inspector]

My initial thought too, but Warpath Across the Pacific (an excellent investment for B-25 freaks) states that while individual nose art declined in the 498th & 500th as the war started winding down most of the 499th aircraft kept the BATS paint schemes, that's why the tail number would help a bunch.

[Mark Allen M]

Your always welcome, happy to post them. As I always say my part is the easy part, you guys are the teachers I'm the student.
Bill I wish there were more photos of that particular B-25. I'd be nice to find out which one it is.

M

[drgondog]

Thanks for the Pics. I was there 1948-49 when my father was CO of 35th FBW. I was young but remembered it pretty well.

[drgondog]

The picture of the pilot on the wing of Miss Barbars sure looks like Irv Ethell. His wife of long standing was Jeanne and I don't know if Irv was in Japan from the beginning of Occupation through Korean War. Jeff Ethell and I were 'traveling companions' from Johnson AFB through Eglin (1948-1954 for me). Keith Ferris was also 'in the area' but I never knew him

Irv was a Squadron CO when my father had the Wing..

It was a sad day when I got a call from Irv following Jeff's death. He was watching him the whole time and knew he was on the ragged edge of a stall - when the P-38 stalled on final.

Bill Marshall

[Lightjug]

Wow, what a fantastic set of pictures. Thank you Mark!