Some B-29 Superforts Finished Posting 12-28

HMFischer · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:03 am

In responce to the F5s in the Marianas. I know that my dad's group, the 318th FG had razorback jugs when they landed on Saipan in June '44 but they would not reach Iwo Jima so several P38s were added to their group for that campain. I have read that many of the P38 missions to Iwo were for photos. Could the B29s arrived at the Marianas while the fighting to take Iwo Jima was still going on, as there definatly is a 29 in the background of that shot? Their P47Ns, which would have had plenty of range, did not arrive until they were moving to Ie Shima later in the spring of '45. Hugh

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:17 am

HMFischer wrote:

In responce to the F5s in the Marianas. I know that my dad's group, the 318th FG had razorback jugs when they landed on Saipan in June '44 but they would not reach Iwo Jima so several P38s were added to their group for that campain. I have read that many of the P38 missions to Iwo were for photos. Could the B29s arrived at the Marianas while the fighting to take Iwo Jima was still going on, as there definatly is a 29 in the background of that shot? Their P47Ns, which would have had plenty of range, did not arrive until they were moving to Ie Shima later in the spring of '45. Hugh

Hugh,

That photo can be dated to spring/summer of 1945. The 73rd Wing started putting the twelve foot tall letters on the tail of their Superforts in April of '45.

Scott

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Second Air Force wrote:

HMFischer wrote:

In responce to the F5s in the Marianas. I know that my dad's group, the 318th FG had razorback jugs when they landed on Saipan in June '44 but they would not reach Iwo Jima so several P38s were added to their group for that campain. I have read that many of the P38 missions to Iwo were for photos. Could the B29s arrived at the Marianas while the fighting to take Iwo Jima was still going on, as there definatly is a 29 in the background of that shot? Their P47Ns, which would have had plenty of range, did not arrive until they were moving to Ie Shima later in the spring of '45. Hugh

Hugh,

That photo can be dated to spring/summer of 1945. The 73rd Wing started putting the twelve foot tall letters on the tail of their Superforts in April of '45.

Scott

Scott.., is that F-5 taken on Iwo? If so, and it looks like it came from the same roll of film.., then you can see the 73rd B-29 in the background.., could we then date the photo to Sept 45.,. because the 73rd aircraft has the 'PW Supplies' painted on the underside of her wing as well. If you look at the shots of the C-47, in the background you can see B-24's and B-29s.., clearly this is Iwo. You are the man.., and no much more about this than I.., i just know the 330th and mainly Guam.

Thanks!!!! as always

Second Air Force · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 10:35 am

Smis,

Photos 16, 17, and 18 could have been taken on Iwo, I suppose. However, the PW supply missions staged through Guam, Saipan, and Tinian in addition to Iwo, and the variety of airplanes could have collected at any of the islands. I'm no expert on the topography, but someone who is could possibly clarify these three pictures.

Scott

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Far left of Photo 18 is a B-32 in the background. Look at the LARGE tail compared to the 29's.

Django · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 11:40 am

I don't think that is a Privateer. Looks like a B-32 to me. There were no NMF Privateers.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

Django wrote:

I don't think that is a Privateer. Looks like a B-32 to me. There were no NMF Privateers.

yes, i was thinking B-32, but wrote down Privateer.., was stuck in 'NAVY' mode from the Coronado discussion!

Thanks

armyjunk2 · **Joined:** Wed May 16, 2007 8:15 pm **Posts:** 833

Well I think I will post all of the photographs from Ben's Raider, this seems to be a lot of the crew and I had a nice experience today. A man sent me a note that one of my photos had a picture of his wife's father that she had never seen. It was a 1944 photograph. Is that cool or what?

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This Photo has on the back " No3 engine out over Kyushu

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This Photo has on the back " Getting ready to replace prop"

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Ray West, pilot

25 This photo has on the back "Jones,-CFC gunner-saipan July 1945" what is CFC?? anyone know?

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Holedigger · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 1:58 pm

Very cool set of pics! Quite a treasure trove. Thanks for sharing.
Merry Christmas

Edward Sheetmetalhands · **Joined:** Sat Oct 25, 2008 6:44 am **Posts:** 257

Is it just me or were there a large number of B-29's scampering around without the aerodynamic fairings at the base of the turrets? Did any of the pilots or crew remark about the performance or noise when the ground crew leaves those off? Did they rub the turrets and cause malfunctions? Did the ground crew leave them off for convenience? Definitely not the easiest part to reproduce with a good fit I would imagine.

b29flteng · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:05 pm

Looking at the FE panel, he is running 2050 RPM, 30" MAP, at 1,000 feet altitude, with the #3 engine shutdown. They must be light weight.

Great stuff!

b29flteng · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 2:09 pm

Edward Sheetmetalhands wrote:

Is it just me or were there a large number of B-29's scampering around without the aerodynamic fairings at the base of the turrets? Did any of the pilots or crew remark about the performance or noise when the ground crew leaves those off? Did they rub the turrets and cause malfunctions? Did the ground crew leave them off for convenience? Definitely not the easiest part to reproduce with a good fit I would imagine.

The upper turret never had a fairing from the factory, probably because it didn't need it. The airflow over the nose did not strike the lower part of the turret.

the330thbg · **Joined:** Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:06 pm **Posts:** 2713

I have never seen a -29 with Hubcaps!! Cool!

armyjunk2 · **Joined:** Wed May 16, 2007 8:15 pm **Posts:** 833

I posted some titles on the early photographs I didn't notice them when I posted...will help with locations

b29flteng · **Posted:** Wed Dec 23, 2009 4:25 pm

Quote:

what is CFC?? anyone know?

Central Fire Control gunner. He was the guy who sat in the upper blister and had control of all the turrets.

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Some B-29 Superforts Finished Posting 12-28

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