Photo(s) of the Week; No Time to Waste

On March 11, 2024March 10, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

The 15th Fighter Group wasted no time in getting into the thick of things after arriving on Iwo Jima. On March 8th, Major John Piper led two flights of 47th Fighter Squadron Mustangs to strafe Japanese positions in support of the Marines on the northern end of Iwo. Colonel James Beckwith and 45th Fighter Squadron got into the fight on the next day with three missions in support of the Marines. The photo below shows two 45th Mustangs loaded up with 500 pound bombs getting ready to take off on one of those missions. The 78th Fighter Squadron also flew 45 sorties in support of the Marines on March 10th.

It would not take long for the 15th Fighter Group’s attention to be diverted elsewhere. On March 11th, the 47th FS would fly its first strike mission against Chichi Jima. I really like the photo below. Taken over the wing of a 47th FS Mustang, the photo below shows two bomb laden 47th FS Mustangs taxing into position to take off for their strike against Chichi Jima. I like how this photo shows the elegant lines of the Mustang’s nose.

Chichi Jima was 147 miles north of Iwo Jima. A major communications center with radio and radar facilities, Chichi Jima had been occupied and fortified by the Japanese for decades. It had an airfield (Susaki Airfield), a deep water anchorage, and a seaplane base. Brig. General Moore and Colonel Beckwith in their Mustangs watched as seventeen 47th FS Mustangs bombed Chichi Jima.

The photo above shows a 47th FS Mustang landing on South Field upon its return from the March 11th strike mission against Chichi Jima as ground crew look on.

***1st Lt. Robert Scamara in 167 Pappy Yochum 47th FS/15th FG (USAAF/National Archives via Fold3)***

In the photo above, 1st Lt. Robert Scamara pulls his 47th FS Mustang 167 Pappy Yochum into parking position after his return from the March 11th strike mission against Chichi Jima. Ground crew and other pilots clamor around the parked Mustangs anxious to hear about the results of the mission. Note the single antenna on Scamara’s Mustang.

References:

John W. Lambert, The Long Campaign: The History of the 15th Fighter Group in World War II, Schiffer Publishing Ltd. (2006)

Carl Molesworth, Very Long Range P-51 Mustang Units of the Pacific War, Osprey Publishing (2006)

Photo(s) of the Week; 45th and 78th Fighter Squadrons Arrive on Iwo Jima

On March 4, 2024March 1, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

On March 7th, a day after the 47th Fighter Squadron landed on Iwo Jima, Colonel James Beckwith, Commander of the 15th Fighter Group, led the 45th and 78th Fighter Squadrons from Saipan to Iwo Jima. With all three squadrons on Iwo Jima, the 15th Fighter Group would start flying missions in support of the Marines on Iwo and against other islands in the Bonins.

The photo below shows a 45th Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustang landing on South Field on March 7, 1945, as 47th Fighter Squadron pilots look on.

The photo below, taken on March 10, 1945, is a beautiful shot of 78th Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustangs lined up on South Field. A few things are worthy of note. First is what looks like freshly painted squadron markings, most likely done on Saipan. Second is the 110 gallon drop tanks on the ground under the wings. These were most likely the drop tanks brought from Saipan by each plane. The 110 gallon drop tanks were used during VLR missions and on combat air patrols around Iwo Jima. Third, it appears that the first Mustang in the picture, 109 Pee Wee, has the SCR-695 IFF transmitter and twin Uncle Dog antennae installed which suggests that those field modifications began relatively soon after the 15th Fighter Group arrived on Iwo Jima.

The last photo is another line up, but this time of 45th Fighter Squadron P-51D Mustangs on South Field with ground crew congregating on the flight line. This photo was also taken on March 10th.

Nice group of photos of the 45th and 78th Fighter Squadrons’ first few days on Iwo Jima.

Photo(s) of the Week; 47th Fighter Squadron, First to Arrive

On February 26, 2024March 14, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

On March 6, 1945, Brig. General Ernest M. “Mickey” Moore, commanding officer of the 7th Fighter Command, and 24 pilots of the 47th Fighter Squadron (FS) of the 15th Fighter Group (FG), landed their North American P-51D Mustangs on South Field (Motoyama #1) on Iwo Jima, just fifteen days after the United States Marines stormed Iwo’s black sand beaches. The battle for Iwo Jima continued to rage on for another twenty days as pockets of Japanese resistance were being eliminated.

It is believed that the above photo is of Brig. General Moore landing an unmarked P-51D on South Field. Was he the first USAAF pilot to land a P-51 on Iwo Jima? None of the captions to the March 6th photos provide an answer, but squadron records indicate that Brig. General Moore was the first to land, with 47th Squadron Commander Major John Piper second.

Another March 6th photo showing a 47th Fighter Squadron P-51D pulling into its parking spot just off of South Field. Note the single antenna in both photos. The twin Uncle Dog antennae were a field modification on Iwo Jima.

Photo(s) of the Week; “Midnite Madness” on Iwo Jima

On February 19, 2024February 17, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

The image above is a United States Army Air Force photo taken on Iwo Jima on March 6, 1945, and shows Midnite Madness, a 548th Night Fighter Squadron Northrop P-61A-11 Black Widow (Serial No. 42-5610) landing on South Field with the tails of two 47th Fighter Squadron/15th Fighter Group Mustangs in the foreground.

On March 6th, Brigadier General Ernest M. “Mickey” Moore, commanding officer of the 7th Fighter Command, and 24 North American P-51D Mustangs landed on South Field. Shortly thereafter, 13 Northrop P-61A Black Widows of the 548th NFS landed on South Field in flights of four, the extra being a 6th NFS Black Widow “guide dog” with the first flight. Which P-61 Black Widow was the first to land on Iwo Jima?

According to the photo above, it was Midnite Madness. The official caption for the photo reads, “A Northrop P-61 ‘Black Widow’ taxies to the parking area at No.1 Airfield on Iwo Jima, Bonin Islands. This is the first night fighter to land at the field. 6 March 1945.” But that caption may not be accurate.

According to Eric Shulenberger, the author of Deny Them the Night Sky: A History of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron, the first P-61 Black Widow to land on Iwo Jima was most likely the 6th NFS “guide dog” P-61 on Temporary Additional Duty leading the 548th NFS’s A Flight from the Marianas to Iwo Jima. Piecing together written statements of 548th pilots and personnel, Dr. Shulenberger believes that Bat Out’A Hell (Serial No. 42-5609) was the first 548th P-61 to land on Iwo Jima. Midnite Madness landed with the second flight and was most likely the 7th P-61 to land on Iwo Jima.

I will review several decal sheets containing markings for 548th NFS Black Widows in the near future, in addition to reviewing Deny Them the Night Sky: A History of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron. Excellent book!

References:

Eric Shulenberger, PhD, JD; Deny Them the Night Sky: A History of the 548th Night Fighter Squadron, self published by Dr. Shulenberger (2005).

Decal Review: Kits-World War Birds 1/72 Boeing B-29 Superfortress KW172225 (Dinah Might & Bad Medicine)

On February 16, 2024February 16, 2024 By acarothersvlrmIn Decal Reviews, Kits-World DecalsLeave a comment

If you have the 1/72nd Academy Boeing B-29A Superfortress kit, and would like to build Dinah Might, the first B-29 to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima, you are in luck. https://iwojimamodels.com/2024/02/12/photos-of-the-week-the-safe-haven-of-iwo-jima/

Kits-World produces a decal sheet (KW172225) which includes the markings for Dinah Might. The other markings included on the decal sheet are for a 482nd BS/505th BG B-29 Bad Medicine.

As you can see, the art work for both sets of markings is excellent and consistent with photos of each plane. In addition, the printing of the decal sheet is very well done and in register. A complete set of national insignia are provided for one plane.

Kits-World has produced some excellent decals for B-29s in both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale. Check them out at: https://www.kitsworld.co.uk/index.php?JSTONE=1. You can purchase the decals directly from Kits-World or from many fine on-line retailers. Kudos to Kits-World!