Tag: 21st Bomber Command

Decal Review: Kits-World War Birds 1/72nd and 1/48th Boeing B-29 Superfortress Decals KW172133 and KW148142 (Sic’Em! and Thumper)

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

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.

A relatively small number of B-29s of the from the 497th and 498th Bomb Groups (73rd Bombardment Wing) bombed Iwo Jima on November 5, 1944 and November 11, 1944. https://iwojimamodels.com/2024/06/22/photos-of-the-week-xxi-bomber-command-b-29s-bomb-iwo-jima/

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.

Photo(s) of the Week: XXI Bomber Command B-29s Bomb Iwo Jima

On By acarothersvlrmIn History, Photo(s) of the WeekLeave a comment

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.

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

On 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 Decals

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.

Kits-World Decals

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 Decals

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!

Photo(s) of the Week; The Safe Haven of Iwo Jima

On By acarothersvlrmIn Photo(s) of the Week1 Comment
USAAF/Loomis Dean/National Archives via Fold3

The image above is a United States Army Air Force photo taken on Iwo Jima in July, 1945. The official caption for this photo reads, “Men of the 21st Bomber Command gather around the American Red Cross truck to relax over a cup of coffee and doughnuts after returning from a raid over Japanese installations. July 1945”. If they landed on Iwo Jima, the return trip was not complete.

The strategic importance of Iwo Jima to both Japan and the United States could not be overstated. Iwo Jima, part of the Bonin Islands, was approximately half way between the Mariana Islands and the Japanese Home Islands. For Japan, it provided a base from which their air forces could intercept B-29 bomber formations heading from the Marianas to the Home Islands, and from which to bomb 20th Air Force B-29 bases on Guam, Tinian and Saipan, which Japan did with some success.

For the United States, it not only provided a base for the VLR Mustang groups to fly escort and strike missions to the Home Islands, but also provided combat damaged and fuel starved B-29s a safe haven during the long over-water flights back to the Marianas. Many crippled B-29s landed safely on Iwo Jima and avoided ditching in the vast Pacific Ocean somewhere between the Home Islands and the Marianas.

Boeing B-29A Superfortress “Dinah Might” on Iwo Jima (USAAF/National Archives via Fold3)

On March 4, 1945, Dinah Might was the first B-29 to make an emergency landing on Iwo Jima, just 13 days after the United States Marines stormed Iwo’s black sand beaches. With the battle still raging on between the Marines and Japanese forces, 1st Lt. Raymond F. Malo put his 1st BS/9th BG Superfortress down on South Field due to the inability to transfer fuel between tanks. As the picture above shows, Dinah Might was surrounded by hundreds of Marines and SeeBees. Mechanics made field repairs quickly, and after being refueled, 1st Lt. Malo lifted her off South Field while being fired at by Japanese forces.

Dinah Might’s emergency landing was the first of 2,451 forced landings on Iwo Jima. On June 7, 1945, 102 B-29s landed on Iwo Jima, and on July 24, 1945, another 186 B-29s landed on South and North Fields. As the picture below testifies to, Iwo Jima at times looked like a B-29 base.

USAAF/Loomis Dean/National Archives via Fold3

Kits-World makes decals in 1/72nd scale for Dinah Might for anybody interested in building the Academy kit into this history making B-29.

References:

Capt. Timothy Lundberg, Remembering Iwo Jima and Its Importance to Strategic Airpower, March 3, 2010. https://www.andersen.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/415598/remembering-iwo-jima-and-its-importance-to-strategic-airpower/