US Navy & Marine "Mission Markings" ...

[Mark Allen M]

TBF Avenger of VT-29 in early 1945 with both bombing & torpedo mission markings.


On the deck of the USS Hornet is TBF-95 which up to that point has flown 53 bombing missions and three torpedo runs, of VT-2.


Here's an interesting set of mission markings, No information on who, where or when.


Again, no information to post.


Here we have an early war SB2C Helldiver and crews.




Another SB2C Helldiver with missions markings.


On the deck of the USS Hornet is TBF-95 which up to that point has flown 53 bombing missions and three torpedo runs, of VT-2.




TBF Avenger of Torpedo Squadron (VT) 2 pictured after recovering aboard USS Hornet (CV 12) after a strike against Japanese targets in the Mariana Islands #OTD in 1944.


Crew of an SBD of VB-5 on the USS Yorktown 1944.


#10 SBD-6 Dauntless scout bomber of Marine Squadron VMSB-231 in flight over the Pacific, 1944. Note the ASB Radar antenna under the wing and the mission markings indicating 85 bombing missions.


#17


ENS Irvin Herbert McPherson received the Navy Cross for his participation in the Battle of Midway, and later in the war, he took command of VT-29.


"Marine First Lt. John Henry Houston, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Houston, 159 Preston Ave, Shreveport, LA, and Marine Sgt. William G. Lucas, son of Mrs. Margaret P. Lucas of Cambria, VA, were killed when their plane crashed during action near Taroa May 1 1944. While the plane was pulling out of a dive, the front cockpit was seen to burst into flames. The plane pulled out only enough to crash into the water about 300 yards offshore." Houston and Lucas, members of VMSB-331, were aboard SBD-5 35974 when they died. Both were twenty-one years old; neither was recovered.


SBD-5 Dauntless of Bombing Squadron (VB) 16 off the carrier Lexington (CV 16) pictured en route to strike Japanese defensive positions on D-Day at Saipan on June 15, 1944.


LT(JG) George T. Glacken and his gunner Leo Boulanger in their SBD-5 Dauntless of VB-16 from USS Lexington CV-16 off of Palau - March 30, 1944.


Douglas SBD-6 Dauntless from Marine scout bombing squadron VMSB-231 Ace of Spades flying from Majuro Atoll in early 1944. The pilot of the aircraft is Major Elmer G. Glidden, a Midway and Guadalcanal veteran, who commanded VMSB-231.


SB2C-1C of VB-2 getting aboard USS Hornet very hard.


TBM-3 “White 89” aboard carrier USS Shamrock Bay (CVE-84).


VB-1 pilot Lt Comdr Joseph Runyan by scoreboard on his SB2C 1944.

[Mortmer]

Here's an interesting set of mission markings, No information on who, where or when.

Planes from the USS Ranger claimed 2 French Submarines during Operation Torch

[marine air]

Quite interesting, thanks for posting!

[junkman9096]

I recall reading that in many instances scoreboards were painted on the starboard side of the planes so that it would be visible to the CAG in his perch. Urban legend or truth?

[mike furline]

In general it appears the scoreboards are painted on the side which the pilot enters the aircraft. SBD - Port. TBM, SB2C - Starboard.

[Cvairwerks]

Mark: For the 4th photo, if you can identify the units in Task Force 38/ TF58 in June of 1944, you should be able to narrow it down quite a bit. Siapan wasn't bombed after June of 44 as we had invaded and secured the island.

TF38/TF58 was the same task force, but the numbering switched depending on which group it was attached to at the time. In June of 44, there were a total of 15 carriers in the group.