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looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Wed Apr 25, 2012 3:32 pm

Hi y'all. My Dad was in the CBI, China, Burma, India, in WWII. He was an aviation buff and sport pilot but a tuck driver/MP in the army. Anyway, he took some pictures of aircraft along the way. He left a couple of shots of some B25s that are unusual, the aircraft that is. Noses are all covered and stripped of guns. One doesn't appear to have any markings and another a checkerboard pattern in a diagonal band. My best guess is some officers transportation?
here are the pictures... The tall guy leaning on the prop blade was Dad. Any info on those aircraft would be appreciated. My only guess on location is India or Burma, possibly Myitkinia.

Image Image Image Image Image

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Wed Apr 25, 2012 4:34 pm

Looks to be a 'war weary' stripped after being withdrawn from combat status but sound enough to used as a 'grocery getter' and R&R transport. The 345th's famous 'TONDELEO' became 'CHOW HOUND' and stripped of all paint and given a cartoon of 'PLUTO' and became a schlep. Can't figure out enough of the s/n to tell if its a 'G' or an 'H' which would tell us what A/F and B/G she belonged to.

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:12 pm

The one with the checkerboards is definitely an H..it's got the later J-style tail gun enclosure. The G had the earlier, skinnier tail with a taller gunner's canopy. Can't see enough of the first one to confirm the variant, but it's either a G or H.

Cool pics!

SN

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Wed Apr 25, 2012 9:37 pm

Unless my eyes are playing tricks again isn't that 43-4381 ex-"Dog Daize" of the 82nd BS ?

It was certainly in CBI theater and the NEAM's example wears the earlier paintjob:
Image

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Wed Apr 25, 2012 10:28 pm

Yep! That's definitely 43-4381. It's a B-25H-1, according to Baugher's list.
Hasegawa has a B-25H model that offers 3 decal choices, one of which is 43-4381, "Dog Daize", 82nd BS, 12th BG, USAAF

Walt

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Thu Apr 26, 2012 2:14 am

The old Monogram 1/48 kit also came with Dog Daize markings when it was first released..I remember building it back in the late '70s.

SN

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:01 am

WHAT A SCORE!!!! :supz: :drinkers: :drink3:

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:23 am

Steve Nelson wrote:The one with the checkerboards is definitely an H..it's got the later J-style tail gun enclosure. The G had the earlier, skinnier tail with a taller gunner's canopy. Can't see enough of the first one to confirm the variant, but it's either a G or H.

Cool pics!

SN
ADF football on the belly - most likely H-model.

Re: looking for info on WWII- CBI B25 pictures Dad took

Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:11 am

Thanks for the info. I had never noticed the tail number or, had simply assumed I couldn't read it. But I did a little research with it and found a little.

Concerning the "Dog Daize" that ac served in the ETO by one reference I found. I found another reference to a B25 in the CBI with that tail #. It was on a pdf. page. (here's a link to the reference for those interested... http://home.mchsi.com/~anderson.kevin/docs/CBI_B25H_Aircraft.pdf)
Here's the item- a/c# 43-4381 B-25H-10, unit- 82 BS, Sqdn.# 42.

Digging as I type--- here's more on that "Dog Daize"; (Here's the link to the source- http://www.network54.com/Forum/149674/thread/1260760888/1260798643/Doubt+about+B-25D+or+J+on+osprey+MTO+profile
Dana Bell
Osprey MTO B-25 Profiles...
Tue Jun 4 12:34:43 2002
160.111.69.32
Sorry that I can't remember who it was that posted the original question about 12th BG B-25 profiles in the recent Osprey MTO title. The 12th moved from the Mediterranean to the China-Burma-India Theater in March 1944; the profiles (and color photos) show CBI aircraft, but describe them as being based in Italy. The question was if these aircraft were with 12th before the move to China.

43-4381 "Dog Daize" - Osprey lists at Gaudo on 28 Dec 43. The aircraft was accepted at the factory on 2 Nov 43, then delivered to China (though the delivery date is unclear on the microfilm)

I'm posing this now before a gremlin comes along and I lose it all!
Thanks guys! :D

EDIT: new info;
82nd bs was in the 10thAF 12th Bombardment Gp (This link gives all manner of detailed info on 10thAF units: http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/posting.php?mode=edit&f=3&p=455496) That site gives an example of nose art including that of the "Dog Daize" picture.
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