Boeing B-29 Superfortress “THUMPER”, of the 497th Bombardment Group.
It was the first B-29 to return home to the US after completing 40
missions, and went on a bond-selling tour.




Several claimed kills of Japanese aircraft
from the gunners (note the six on one mission - 27th January 1945 to
Tokyo).
The (even smaller) hearts next to the rabbits denote airmen wounded
aboard the aircraft on that mission.
Actually this photo is not the total mission photo, later photos show 5 more
little thumpers. Photos taken during the war bond tour after returning to the states ,
the little thumpers were replaced with 40 bomb sysmbols. as used in in the ETO