win-win
7/17/2008 3:26:57 PM | Hi: This photo is in the 401BG Gallery - 2-Questions:
Q.1. The official caption identifies those in this June 15, 1944 photo as (left to right): Capt. Haberer, Lt. Ramsey, Colonel Vorhees, Capt. Goodman and Lt. Anderson. I know Col. Vorhees was 401BG Aie Exec. (until June, 1944), but who are the others - Staff? Flight Crew?
Q.2.: What A/C is this? It looks 'camo' color, and below the pilot's window is artwork - does it read 'Son of A Blitz' (which would be 42-31081)? Does anyone have a large print or large scan-file (I could beg, borrow or steal to enlarge that area to see if it's readable)?
Sleuthin'
Win
|
Paul Bellamy
8/11/2008 6:41:02 AM | Hi Win,
I'll work on these in order......
Q.1. The official caption identifies those in this June 15, 1944 photo as (left to right): Capt. Haberer, Lt. Ramsey, Colonel Vorhees, Capt. Goodman and Lt. Anderson. I know Col. Vorhees was 401BG Aie Exec. (until June, 1944), but who are the others - Staff? Flight Crew?
Going through the crew lists for that date finds three of those names in one crew:
The Crew of: Capt J.F. Goodman
Unit: 612th Bomb Squadron
Pilot Capt J.F. Goodman
Copilot 1st Lt R.J. Ramsey
Navigator 1st Lt F.P. Frioli
Bombardier 1st Lt D.M. Anderson
Radio Operator T/Sgt F.E. Dewees
Engr / Top Turret T/Sgt J.O. Farmer
Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt J.J. Graham
Tail Gunner S/Sgt W.D. Smith
Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt B.A. Markle
Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt P.D. Henderson
This crew flew it's last mission on the 14th June 1944, which is likely when the photo was actually taken. (Many of the NARA photos original captions are dated the day after they were taken, maybe that's the date they were developed or filed.)
Q.2.: What A/C is this? It looks 'camo' color, and below the pilot's window is artwork - does it read 'Son of A Blitz' (which would be 42-31081)? Does anyone have a large print or large scan-file (I could beg, borrow or steal to enlarge that area to see if it's readable)?
A Hi-Res copy of 65442AC is available free to download on Footnote at http://www.footnote.com/image/32160916/65442ac/.
Sadly, the aircraft name is out of focus, so I've turned to my 401st Aircraft spreadsheet to see how many OD Forts the 612th had in service on the 14th June 1944 to narrow it down.
I came up with eight, although the records indicate two of those had the same fuselage code at the same time, so an error in the records there somewhere.
42-31077 SC-A Pakawalup II (Later transferred to the 615th as IY-A)
42-31662 SC-B Fancy Nancy IV
42-39993 SC-C Hell's Angels Out of Chute 13
42-97487 SC-C Hangover Haven
42-40050 SC-J Channel Express III
42-31087 SC-K Boche Buster
42-31891 SC-P
42-31496 SC-Q Salvo Sadie
Out of those, comparing known nose-art, I think it's Channel Express III.
It's not clear in 65442AC, but after eliminating all the ones listed above that it's definitely not, that's the closest match.
See http://www.footnote.com/image/55660125/ for comparison.
The only other option is 42-31891, but as there's no recorded name for her I can't pull a photo.
I hope that's of use.
Paul Bellamy
|