VMB 433 Photos

The Inspector · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:11 pm

SHOW OF HANDS on turning this into a sticky please...............

YES

NC_Rotorhead · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:03 pm **Posts:** 107

Yes......

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 1:47 pm

heck yeah

Dave Fish · **Posted:** Fri Jul 11, 2008 2:15 pm

YES!!!

The Inspector · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2008 1:08 pm

Mortimer-

Thanks from all of us for going sticky for this site, now it won't get lost in the normal shuffle and will be a great reference point for all of us who appreciate everything the Mitchell did and still is....

Craig59 · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:27 pm

Dave Fish wrote:

Craig,

This is a photo of one of VMB 611's PBJ-1D waist-gun...notice that the MG mount is in the center of the window. What do you think...a factory job or a possible field mod? I was not aware that some later "D" models had factory installed waist-gun positions (and with the top-turret aft, it sure must have been crowded).

Dave,

Apologies for the lengthy delay in answering. If I had to guess I would say that the photograph is a field mod. However, the last block of B-25D's - the dash 35 block, ser. 43-3620 thru 43-3869 - included waist windows. I don't know if it was all 250 in the block or just some. There is one known survivor of this block listed in the registry here: http://www.warbirdregistry.org/b25registry/b25-433634.html

PBJ's from this block included BoNo's 35184/35185; 35186/35193; and 35196/35202.

Love this thread!

Mortmer · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2008 2:31 pm

I'm glad to see the enthusiasm for this thread. It's helped me to learn a lot more about this plane and then men who crewed them

Scott was kind enough to Sticky this for me and let me know that it will be moving to the Photos section in the future.

Dave Fish · **Posted:** Tue Jul 15, 2008 3:39 pm

Craig59 wrote:

Dave,

... However, the last block of B-25D's - the dash 35 block, ser. 43-3620 thru 43-3869 - included waist windows. I don't know if it was all 250 in the block or just some.

PBJ's from this block included BoNo's 35184/35185; 35186/35193; and 35196/35202.

Love this thread!

Craig,

Thanks – From my VMB 611 Aircraft Bureau Number/MB Number cross-reference, the majority of VMB 611's PBJ-1Ds were from Production Block 30, thus possible "Field Mods." My cross-reference to their Production Block 35, possible "Factory Mods" are:

BuNo 35185 MB ? - Operational Loss – Zamboanga
BuNo 35187 MB ? - Operational Loss – Samar
BuNo 35188 MB12 - Returned From Combat (?)
BuNo 35193 MB ? - Operational Loss (Zamboanga ?)
BuNo 35197 MB ? - Struck Off Charge to VMB 423 (?)
BuNo 35198 MB ? - Returned From Combat (?)
BuNo 35200 MB 8 - Lost on Strike – Del Monte, 2 May 1945, Lt Mason and crew KIA
BuNo 35202 MB ? - Operational Loss – Parris Island, SC

By the way, Lt Col Sarles' PBJ-1D MB 7 (BuNo 35164 - Block 30), with "modified" waist-gun positions, was lost in the morning while on a stike at Kibawe Trail, 30 May 1945, with Sarles and three crewmembers KIA. My father, flying PBJ-1J MB 11, and his seven crewmembers were lost MIA in the afternoon on the same strike on the same day.

The Inspector · **Posted:** Wed Jul 16, 2008 2:10 am

I hope that cut out is a field mod, because those are some pretty gnarly side-by-side rivets installed in that doubler! and I hope the factory didn't do that lousy a caliber of work.
Trying to figure out just why someone would shoot a #30 and then a #10 right next to it? Safety in numbers? Dotted line effect (tear here to open)? 'we got a lot of these so use 'em up'? :roll:

Craig59 · **Posted:** Wed Sep 10, 2008 9:05 am

Bill Parks, one of the original pilots of VMB-433 recently sent me the following picture that I wanted to share here. Bill writes:

"In going through my stuff, I found this photo which maybe you will find interesting. Fred Green and I are the only ones living today. Fred Green became a Priest and has been in Peru, South America, for over forty years."

Mortmer · **Posted:** Thu Sep 11, 2008 5:07 pm

After hounding my sister in law mercilessly I have managed to persuade her to get in contact with her sister who has the remainder of Frank's material. Beth's sister has agreed to give the material to Beth on the 26th of this month and I will be able to borrow it starting on the 28th.

As soon as I have started scanning it I will begin posting it to the website.

NC_Rotorhead · **Joined:** Mon Aug 27, 2007 5:03 pm **Posts:** 107

"Cool"......................"I'll be Bauk"

Steve

atis · **Posted:** Wed Sep 24, 2008 2:35 am

Reference the photo with the volcano tops.
According to a group of ex airline pilots I work with here in australia
that is Rabaul.
Accoring to GOOGLE EARTH Roughly 152.12.36E
04.14.34S
Hope this helps

Mortmer · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 4:22 pm

I finally got a hold of a bit more of Frank's stuff.

Starting with something a bit silly -

A PBJ in flight -

Frank in a flight jacket, I'm not sure what the shamrock stood for -

An Australian -

Frnk in the cockpit of a PBJ after the war at Malabang, PI (I can get a close up of the data block if people would like it -

Last for today, a scan of an unused VMB 433 leather unit patch -

I'll post the rest tomorrow from work.

Paul

The Inspector · **Posted:** Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:08 pm

Good to see you back! I'm not sure, but I think that shot with the DUCK just might be photoshopped, or, those guys couldn't get away with anything in theater-

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