VMB Four - Thirteen

[gary1954]

A couple of Months ago, I ran into a little old guy from Massachusetts . He was sitting in a mini-van with his daughter at our local airport, which is located near Callaway Gardens. I mentioned to him that it would be a great place to have some round motors, here, or a B-25 or B-26 Invader , or anything with a Radial, even a Stearman would be cool. He nodded. I could tell he was "Vintage", and asked he where he was between December 7, 1941, and August 1945.
He said he was in the Pacific, flew a PBJ . I literally flew out of my car, shook his hand and told him thank you . He appreciated it. During the course of our brief conversation, I learned that he was with the VMB Four Thirteen. http://www.vmb413.com/summary.htm

He told me that he couldn't remember the model he flew. He said that he trained at Cherry Point, NC., and deployed to the South Pacific, to Munda to Emirau, and flew missions over New Britain and New Ireland.
I inquired if he had any old photos I could look at. He said that most of his stuff was lost in a house fire, his wings, medals, etc. (I immediately thought of our Jack Cook losing his stuff to fire). Our meeting was brief, as I had to return to work, and he had to get to Atlanta to return home.
I began a correspondence with his daughter who lives in Alabama, and not to far from me here.
From our messages, I have only begun to scratch the surface of the brief Combat Career of the little unassuming man I had met.
I have learned that he was warded the Distinguished Flying Cross, and a Gold Star in lieu of a Second DFC, for
"During operations against enemy Japanese forces in the Phillippine Islands Area, from May 28, to 5 July 1945. Completling his 40th Mission during this period."
He was awarded a the Air Medal with 5 Gold Stars, "in the name of the President of the United States for heroism, and extraordinary and meritorious achievements in aerial flights during operations against the Jaanese forces in the Bismarck Archipeloga and Phillippine Islands Areas, in 1945."
I wonder if I would be safe in assuming that he flew the J Model PBJ with a Wing mounted Pod, or would it have been in the top-side of the nose looking like a snoopy?
I had been Looking for some photos of a Marine PBJ in various configurations, run small prints by him to see which model he flew, then make an 8X10 or 11X14 matted and Framed for his birthday,
but my hopeful contact in obtaining photos was in Florida
This old warriors name is First Lieutenant Frank R. Conant, United States Marine Corps Reserve. http://www.vmb413.com/personnel_roster1.htm
He turned 90 on this birthday on the 9th.
I would like to obtain some PBJ photos to fly by him, so hopefully, I can get it to him through his daughter and son. In the meantime however for his birthday, he received a replacement of his DFC/Air Medal, (other authorized ribbons as well), and a replacement set of Aviator Wings. He was most pleased with his wings.
Maybe after the Doolittle Gathering, we can sneak him aboard a B-25

[Holedigger]

Here is one with the nose config. Cool story.

[The Inspector]

Send a PM to MORTMER he's got a photo sticky up of VMB433 and it's got lots of PBJ pix, see if he'll grant permission to use one!

[Nathan]

My great uncle worked at Cherry Point as a aircraft mechanic in the Marine Corps back in 1943! Still alive and sharper then a nail at 88! Saw him today in fact!

Gary,

I'll see if my uncle knows him.

[gary1954]

Thanks guys, I am at wiork rught now, surfing on my BlackieBerry, Will look into the suggestions later, Nathan, asking him would be cool. Thanks.

[Craig59]

The Marines had PBJ C'; D's; one G (never left stateside); H's; and J's (solid and bombardier). The squadron with H's never made it past Midway before the end of the war. Very likely he predominantly flew C's and D's. I'd highly recommend a copy of Alan Carey's, "Leatherneck Bombers; Marine Corps PBJ Mitchell Squadrons in WWII." There's an entire chapter on VMB-413, AKA, The Flying Nightmares.

Thank you for sharing your great encounter!

[mustangdriver]

My neighbor was in VMB 413. He has since passed. His name was Charles Simonski. They flew C's and D's in combat with no radar early on. He had a sort of year book with tons of pictures. The B-25/PBJ on display in the NMNA is painted in VMB-413 markings.

[Nathan]

My uncle told me that one time this PBJ was taxiing to take off with a bomb bay loaded gas tank. He said all of a sudden the whole air field thundered as the PBJ just blew up all over the place! They had to get brooms to clean it all up. Including parts of the crew. He said he thinks one of the crew members was smoking and must have caught fumes from the extra fuel tank. He said 5 guys gone just like that.

Another story he told me: a F4U with a green kid just had taken off when suddenly the Corsair just flipped on its back and nosed straight into the ground. Another loss!

He said it was some thrill riding in the nose and the pilots during split-S's with the PBJ's!!

He showed me is old survice uniform a few weeks ago. It looked brand new!

[Django]

That's pretty cool Gary.

Here's the Mortmer thread mentioned...

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=22741