B-29 "Lula Belle"

[Kdmoo]

Over Thanksgiving with the family, my Mother handed me a box of old photos. One of them was this B-29, "Lula Belle". I am looking for some help in tracking down this particular aircraft.

Here is what I know. The pilot sticking his head out is Lyle "Skitch" Henderson. He and my Father were buddies that met at Merced Army Air Field circa 1943. From internet searches, I was able to determine that Skitch was a B-29 pilot in the PTO at some point.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skitch_Henderson

Also, on the fuselage, you can see the note "Crewed by RW Keating". No luck with that name yet.

Any B-29 fanatics that can assist? Any idea what the camels are for? Never noticed that on a B-29 nose before.

Thanks for digging around!



Kevin

Last edited by Kdmoo on Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:33 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[The Inspector]

Usually the camels were to indicate supply flights over the 'Hump' so Lula Belle must have been a very early B-29.
Maybe someone can cleanup the fuzzy data block-

[Kdmoo]

Camels...hump. Should have figured that one out!

[Dan K]

I am admittedly a total newb when it comes to B-29 units, but does anyone else see in the lower right of this pic what might be the tip of a star. It seems many (most? all?) Superforts of the 468th BG carried similar nose art.

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii12 ... 93rdBS.jpg

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii12 ... 93rdBS.jpg

http://www.40thbombgroup.org/images/Cre ... Sqd_a.jpeg

http://www.40thbombgroup.org/images/Cre ... Sqd_b.jpeg



Then again, I'm old and most-likely seeing things...

[Kdmoo]

Thanks for the photo links Dan. You are the second to tell me it is most likely from the 468th BG (had a pm from another helpful Wixer).

Again, appreciate the input.