B-29 "Thumper" Returns in color, June 1945 ...

[Mark Allen M]

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

[JohnB]

Nice photos, didn't Monogram put Thumper decals on its 1/48 scale kit?

What newspaper is the story from?

Also, notice the story about the Marine killed in Okinawa, his brother a Flight Officer, was killed over Germany. Imagine losing both sons.
We don't hear a lot about non-commissioned pilot and flight officers.

[Richard W.]

"... somebody had ordered all the clever insignia off airplanes. ..."

I have heard that the USAAF tried to enforce this more than once. Did it ever get anywhere?

I see photos of planes in all theaters with nose art right until the end of the war.

[Ken]

And I'm sure someone here knows ... what became of Thumper?

Ken

[menards]

And I'm sure someone here knows ... what became of Thumper?

Ken

It’s sitting on a remote range in China Lake waiting to be discovered;-D

[mike furline]

http://joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html

24623 Delivered to USAAF 31Jul44. Assigned to 870th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group Departed CONUS for PTO, arrived Saipan 18Oct44.
Named ‘Thumper’ The plane flew 40 combat missions before returning home to make a war bond tour around the US. Displayed 7Aug45 at the Boeing Plant No.2 Seattle, WA
Accident 13Aug45 landing at Memphis Municipal Airport, TN. Reclaimed at Pyote AFB, TX 11Sep50

[TheBigBadGman]

I’d like to know when her final mission was. Anybody have a mission log?

[Adam Kline]

Again Mark thanks for posting