Warbird Information Exchange

This is a big one ...

Part 1


Corsair, F4U being refueled on the Tokorina Point Fighter Strip. Where Taken: Bougainville Unit: 3rd Marine Division
Date 1/9/1943
Source National Archives
Author PFC C.H. McClure


MARINE FIGHTER PILOTS ARRIVE at their newest base, the recently completed air strip on Green Island. They have made a temporary open-air ready room on the strip edge. In background are their powerful Corsair fighter planes. Location: Green Island. Unit: 1st MAW
Date 3/8/1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt DQ White


MARINE FIGHTER PLANES are among the first to get into action from the recently completed air strip on Green Island. Occupied February 15, the atoll is a connecting link between South and Southwest Pacific commands. Its location is of great strategic value in the elimination of Japanese shipping to garrisons remaining on New Britain, New Ireland, and Bougainville. Location: Bougainville. Unit 1st MAW
Date 3/7/1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt DQ White


WHEN ENEMY PLANES ARE REPORTED IN THE AREA
Marine fighter pilots "scramble" to their Corsair fighter planes in this fashion. In the foreground one mechanic helps a pilot up on a wing, while another inserts a starting cartridge.
Series "Glimpses of Marine Fighter Pilots". #2 Location: Bougainville. Unit: 1st MAW
Date 14 February 1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt Douglas White


USMC Fighter Aircraft the F4U is parked on Tokorina Point Airstrip during the Bougainville Campaign. Location: Bougainville Unit: 3rd Marine Division
Date 12/10/1943
Source National Archives
Author Pfc P Scheer


Marines of VMF-222 on Bougainville relaxing in between strikes.
Date April 1944
Author Charles Fenno Jacobs


This Marine Corsair fighter plane zooms off the new fighter strip at Empress Augusta Bay on a raid to Rabaul. The pilot has not yet raised his landing gear. The camera catches him just as he is airborne. Unit: 1st MAW. Where Taken: Bougainville.
Date 28 January 1944
Source National Archives
Author Sgt Wm. Wilson


Marine fighter pilot in the cockpit of his Corsair fighting plane. At high altitudes he fights with oxygen mask, cockpit cover closed. Location: Bougainville. Unit: 1st MAW
Date 2/12/1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt. Douglas White

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Zero Surprise!!...

Part 2


A MARINE TORPEDO BOMBER gets an overhaul in its revetment on Bougainville by its mechanics. In foreground is a 2,000 pounder waiting to be put in plane. Series "Marine Mech" #18 Location: Bougainville. Unit: 1st MAW
Date 16 February 1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt. Douglas White


Members of a torpedo bomber crew prepare to leave from Bougainville air strip on a strike at Rabaul. In center is the pilot; to his left is the turret gunner; to right, radio-gunner. Location: Bougainville Unit: 1st MAW
Date 14 February 1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt. Douglas White


Marine Torpedo Bomber, shown here as it takes off against the jungle background of a Bougainville air strip. Either carrier or land based, it drops both torpedoes and bombs with equal accuracy. Location: Bougainville Unit: 1st MAW
Date 17 February 1944
Source National Archives
Author T/Sgt. Douglas White


Patches -- Nearly 400 holes and it still flies. This Marine Torpedo Bomber was hit by flying shrapnel March 8th, when the Japanese started throwing shells into the Air Strips on Bougainville. the plane was repaired and ready to fly the next morning. Location: Bougainville Unit: 1st MAW
Date 3/9/1944
Source National Archives
Author G. W. Circle


Lt. Charles E. Kerlee, USNR, steps down from the wing of a TBF after photographing the raid on Wake. Using two K-20 cameras, Kerlee squeezed in behind the pilot and stood for four hours to get his pictures.
Date circa 6 October 1943


Mail plane (TBM) prepares to take off from Nan Yuan Airfield, Peiping, China, operating base of MAG-24, on daily run to Tientsin. Operations building and tower in background. Maj. Gen. Louis E. Woods, USMC is C.G. of FMAW.
Date 13 November 1945
Source National Archives
Author S/Sgt. R.O. Kepler

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Zero Surprise!!...

Part 3


Gunners in the "bucket" ready seat of the diving Dauntlesses use their twin thirties to strafe targets, as the ship pulls out of her dive, or to hit Nips flushed during "flat hatting" runs at treetop levels, and on the return trip to home base, they watch skies for any Japanese planes. In the Philippines, they were alert in vain most of the time.. the Japanese just didn't come up to fight.. but hope springs eternal. Location: Zamboanga Unit: 1st MAW
Date 7/1/1945
Source National Archives
Author Lt. Hoover


Two SB2C's of Squadron 244, the Bombing Banshees, are shown on a mission over Davao, Mindanao. They are flying support for the Army troops in the Davao area from their strip at Malabang. Location: Davao, Mindanao Philippines Unit: 1st MAW / MAG-24
Date 6/12/1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl, E. Scarmellino


SB2C's of VMSB-244, the Bombing Banshees, fly toward Davao on Mindanao for bombing, strafing, and rocket runs in support of Army ground troops there. The squadron which used SBDs in the Luzon campaign is now using SB2C's in the Mindanao operation. Location: Davao, Mindanao. Unit: VMSB-244
Date 6/12/1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl. E. Scarmellino


Helldivers of the Bombing Banshees Squadron of the First Marine Air Wing, return from a strike in support of Army ground troops in the Davao area of Mindanao. Location: Mindanao, Philippines. Unit: 1st MAW / MAG-24
Date 28 July 1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl E. Scaramellino


Helldivers of the Bombing Banshees Squadron of the First Marine Air Wing, return from a strike in support of Army ground troops in the Davao area of Mindanao. Location: Mindanao, Philippines. Unit: 1st MAW / MAG-24
Date 28 July 1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl E. Scaramellino

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Zero Surprise!!...

Part 4


Taxiway at Nan Yuan Field, Peiping, China, Marines of Major General L.E. Woods, First Marine Aircraft Wing and Chinese Air Force pilots, talk shop while a Marine Tigercat and a Hellcat are serviced between flights. The Marine planes are based with MAG-24. The Mustangs and Warhawks are part of the 22nd Chinese Fighter Group which operates the field jointly with Marine Squadrons.
Date 12/10/1945
Source National Archives
Author SSgt. R.O. Kepler


Marine Tigercat Fighters of VMF(N)-533 contrast the mule-drawn cart of a Chinese field worker at Nan Yuan Field, Peiping, China, operating base of Marine Air Group 24 of Major General L.E. WOODS' First Aircraft Wing. The Chinese planes in the background are part of the 22nd Chinese Fighter Group, which operates the field jointly with Marine squadrons.
Date 12/10/1945
Source National Archives
Author SSgt. R.O. Kepler


F7F fighter plane -- "Tiger Cat". Location: Cherry Point, N.C. Unit: Unknown
Date 1 January 1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl. John Neff


CHERRY POINT, N.C. -- Except for the lowered landing gear, the sleek lines of the F7F Fighter Plane are revealed in this head-on photo taken next to a landing strip at the Marine Corps Air Station here. -USMC-
Date 3/27/45
Source National Archives
Author Cpl. John Neff

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Zero Surprise!!...

Too tired ... more to come tomorrow.

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Zero Surprise!!...

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Really great photos, Mark. Thanks for posting.

I was afraid that you got the OD & NMF disease & gave up on the Navy & Marine birds.

Mac

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WWII Naval Aviation Research - Pacific
https://www.ww2nar-pac.com/

Fantastic Mark, thanks.

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Ain't no sunshine when she's gone!

Your all very welcome ... I'll be adding to this thread quite a bit so stop by again soon


Ordnancemen of the "Sons of Satan" squadron of Marine dive bombers (Douglas Dauntless - SBD) load a 1,000 pound bomb into the bay of one of the obsolete planes that are giving the Japanese so much hell on Luzon, where they operate in close support of Army infantry. Note the smaller bombs suspended from wing racks. Location: Luzon P.I. Unit: MAG-24
Date 3/6/1945
Source National Archives
Author Cpl G. Scaramellino

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Zero Surprise!!...

Pilot of VMSB-231 at Majuro Island, Capt. John F. Adams, USMC on the wing of his plane.
Date August 1944


Flight deck crews spot SBD's which have just returned from Japanese island attack.
Date October 1943

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Zero Surprise!!...

Needs some new tires ?


Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

Mark , absolutely great keep them coming

A black cat off of the Solomons 1944


PBJ in flight

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Zero Surprise!!...

As usual lovely photos, thank you

More PBJ'-1D's (and a couple Corsairs) of I believe VMB-443, Emirau Island, Papua, New Guinea c 1944.

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Zero Surprise!!...