The Japanese air forces on Iwo Jima were losing the war of attrition brought on by the relentless 7th Air Force bombing campaign. Unable to consistently replace aircraft damaged from combat and bombing, the Japanese would resort to using air-to-air phosphorus bombs to break up the bomber formations and destroy more bombers.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
Japanese aircraft, mostly Mitsubishi A6M5 Zeros, would position themselves above the B-24 formations and release their phosphorus bombs which would explode over the formations sending phosphorus bomblets in a 300 yard wide pattern down onto the path of the bombers. Each 32 kg bomb would hold 75 steel encased phosphorus bomblets.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
While very unsettling for bomber crews, the phosphorus air to air bombs were largely ineffective. More 7th Air Force B-24s were lost to ordinary flak than to phosphorus bombs.
Kits-World makes a number of very nice decal sheets in both 1/72nd and 1/48th scale for modelers who are building either the 1/72nd Academy or the 1/48th Monogram Boeing B-29A Superfortress.
Decals for one of those B-29s, Thumper (Serial Number 42-24623), are provided in both 1/72nd scale (KW172133) for the Academy kit and in 1/48th scale (KW148142) for the Monogram kit.
Kits-World Decals
The other set of decals on these sheets are for Sic ‘Em!, a 343rdBS/598th BG B-29 while stationed at Yokota, Japan during the Korean Conflict.
Kits-World Decals
As can be seen from the photos below, Thumper’s mission symbols were a smaller version of the cartoon character nose art with the name of the target location printed on the bomb. Aerial victories were noted by a Japanese flag on a flag pole carried by cartoon character.
Thumper on Mariana Islands (via World War Photos)
Missions with multiple aerial victories were noted by the same number of flags on one or two flag poles. By the end of its tour, the crew of Thumper would claim 26 aerial victories. I could not find a photo of the right side of the nose during Thumper’s time in the Marianas to determine if the nose art was on both sides of the nose. Kit-World provides two decals of the nose art so if you are so inclined to put it on both sides of the nose, you can. Nice touch on Kit-World’s part.
Thumper and crew on the Mariana Islands (via Wings Over New Zealand Aviation Forum)
As you can see, the art work for both sets of markings looks really good. In addition, the printing of the decal sheet is very well done and in register. A complete set of national insignia are provided for both planes.
Kits-World Decals
Thumper was also significant in that it was the first Marianas based B-29 to complete 40 bombing missions. In late July of 1945, Thumper and its crew were sent home for a short-lived war bond tour. The two photos below are of Thumper while on the war bond tour. Please note a few changes. First, the mission and aerial victory symbols have changed to the traditional mission and aerial victory symbols. Gone are the mini-Thumpers riding a bomb and holding flag poles with flags to denote the missions and aerial victories.
Thumper and crew on War Bond Tour (via World War Photos)
Second, the plane number “21” has been painted on the nose. I could not find any Marianas based pictures that showed the plane number painted on the nose, so it is difficult to determine when that change was made. Third, in the picture below, it shows that both the nose art and the mission and aerial victories symbols are on the right side of the nose, as well as the left side of the nose. The Kits-World decal sheet only provides the mission and aerial victory for one side of the nose of the war bond tour Thumper.
Thumper on War Bond Tour (via National Museum of the United States Air Force)
This is a very nice decal sheet with only one short coming as noted above. Highly recommended if you intend to build the Marianas based Thumper.
On October 12, 1944, Joltin’ Josie, The Pacific Pioneer, a 873rd Bomb Squadron, 498th Bomb Group B-29, landed on Isely Field, Saipan with Brig. General Haywood S. “Possum” Hansell, Jr. at the controls. Joltin’ Josie was the first B-29 to reach the Mariana Islands. The 498th Bomb Group was assigned to the 73rd Bombardment Wing, which was commanded by Brig. General Emmett “Rosy” O’Donnell. The 497th, 499th and 500th Bomb Groups were also assigned to the 73rd BW.
A total of six “shakedown” missions were flown by the B-29s of the 73rd BW against Truk and Iwo Jima prior to any missions being flown against targets in the Japanese Homeland. Two retaliatory strikes against Motoyama Airfiled #1 and Motoyama Airfield #2 were carried out on November 5th and 11th after Japanese aircraft on Iwo Jima staged a low-level raid on Isely Field on November 2nd damaging several B-29s.
“Thumper”, 870th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group, 73rd Bombardment Wing, 21st Bomber Command, 20th Army Air Force
Thumper, a 870th BS/497th BG B-29, participated in one of the bombing missions against Iwo Jima. The Iwo Jima bombing mission was the second mission flown by Thumper; Truk being the first. At the time this photo was taken, Thumper had also flown five missions against targets in Tokyo, and one mission against targets in Nagoya.
As can be seen from the photo above, its mission symbols were a smaller version of its cartoon nose art with the name of the target location printed on the bomb. Aerial victories were noted by a Japanese flag carried by cartoon character.
References:
How the Superfortress Paced the Attack Against Japan, Major James M. Boyle, USAF, Air Force Magazine, December, 1964.
Yes, you are seeing that right. Those are 55 gallon drums falling toward Motoyama Airfield #2 (Central Field). During the 7th Air Force bombing campaign of Iwo Jima, B-24J Liberators flew a number of missions in which they dropped 55 gallon drums filled with naplam in an attempt to burn off foliage leading up to the invasion.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
The official caption for the photo reads: “DRUM BOMBS – Seven of the 55-gallon drum fire bombs released by U.S. Army 7th Air Force just above Airstrip No. 2 on Iwo Jima on Feb. 1, 1945 head for the wooded area near the boat basin where the invasion took place. Chemical officers recommended heavy strikes of several thousand of the drum bombs to prelude the Iwo invasion. The bombs are fitted with plywood fins designed to take the place of unavailable metal fins.”
It looks as if the fins provided stability for the 55 gallon drums as they plummet uniformly to their intended target.
This photo also provides a nice diorama idea. Several aftermarket manufacturers produce resin 55 gallon drums for dioramas in both 1/72nd and 1/48 scales. It would be a neat diorama showing on Consolidated B-24J Liberator being loaded with the 55 gallon drum bombs.
Below are two photos of 819th Bomb Squadron, 30th Bomb Group Consolidated B-24J Liberators heading back for the long trip to the Marianas after bombing Iwo Jima. The 7th Air Force’s Liberators bombed Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima, and Haha Jima on a frequent basis between August 10, 1944, and February 19, 1945.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
The official United States Army Air Force caption for the above photo reads: “SOUTH PACIFIC – Bomb scarred Iwo Jima Island only 650 miles from the Japanese homeland is a regular target for the 7th AAF heavies – show clearly the necessity for the famous pin point precision bombing of the 7th AAF Liberators.” No matter how accurate the precision bombing of 7th AAF Liberators was, it would only take a short amount of time for the Japanese troops to repair the damage and return the airfields to operational status, much to the ire of bomber crews.
USAAF/National Archives via Fold3
Notwithstanding, during the period between August 10, 1944 and February 19, 1945, the Japanese air forces on Iwo Jima were greatly disrupted by constant bombardment of 7th AAF Liberators, and never became much of an offensive threat to American air bases in the Marianas.
I am assuming both pictures were taken during the same bombing mission, but there is nothing in the captions for the photos to confirm is assumption.
Iwo Jima Models 