Warbird Information Exchange

Here's a link to a photo of P-84B 45-59536, taken at Dow AFB in Bangor, ME:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/my_public_ ... 533659914/

And here's my Dad in the same plane, taken at Itami AFB in Japan in '48:



Question is, how did 536 end up in Japan? It was assigned to the 49th FS based at Dow but a Net search hasn't turned up anything about a Far East deployment. Anyone have info?

(BTW, he also mentioned seeing an RAF Lancaster there in '48 - did any Lancs get sent over there or would it have actually been a Lincoln by then?)

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Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

TWX From: MaineSnowBallMilitia To: WIX

Subj: 49th FS 14th FG P-84B at Dow AFB Me circa 1948

Re: 49th FS move from Dow AFB to Itami AB Japan
In the above attached photo, this should be an early, pre-Sept. 1947 shot, probably taken at Presque Isle AFB Me, as the airframe is still designated "pursuit" and the 49th was the first unit to receive the "B" model P-84s. The P-80Cs in the background are are probably 132 FS aircraft. The 49th was activated in 1946 under Air Defense Command. Although assigned to Dow AFB, they were rarely at Dow, more often at Presque Isle AFB or other ADC bases. This because of the 49th being the first jet ADC unit. After the 49th was deactivated, the now designated F-84Bs were returned to Republic Aircraft for extensive rebuilds. From Republic, the airframes were re-assigned to various units throughout the Air Force.

Please submit any future Maine Aviation information requst to:
The Maine SnowBall Militia

D. Martin, Adjt for
The Colonel

Sponsered by Moxie; Rocket Fuel to the Stars!

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Close. The 49th was one of 3 squadrons that made up the 14th FG which de-activated at Dow in 1949. They had converted from P-47Ns in 1947 to P, then F-84Bs. The change from P to F occurred in June 1948. The 132nd FS of the MEANG converted to F-80Cs from F-47Ds in 1948. In 1951 they were activated to provide air defense during the Korean crisis. When the 132nd returned to state control in 1952, the 49th was re-activated with the F-80s formerly alloted to the 132nd. The 49th stayed at Dow until the late 1950s flying F-80Cs, F-86Fs, and F-86Ds.

This ship may have been in Japan on a TDY in 1948. The 14th, despite all of their teething troubles with the F-84, did have several successful deployments.