P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Share #1 Posted September 13, 2017 This B-11 was an E-PRAY pick up Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #2 Posted September 13, 2017 In side the pocket flap I found an ink stamp "14048770" and the name "W.M.FOLEY" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #3 Posted September 13, 2017 A web search turned up a wealth of info. Foley was a crew member on a B-29. In the bottom photo Foley is on the bottom row fourth from the left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #4 Posted September 13, 2017 Lassie can be seen in line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted September 13, 2017 Lassie Too was B-29 #44-63356 (Foley is bottom row, far right). Lassie Two was returning from a bombing mission over Formosa and took a hit on the #2 engine and force landed at an abandoned air field in Sichuan China. To keep from being seen by the Japanese Air force they covered the bomber in rice plants to make it blend in with the back ground. After having parts airdropped and six days of fixing the B-29 Lassie Too was able to fly off that air field and return home. According to "The story of the Billy Mitchell group- from the CIB to the Marianas" Lassie Too was the only bomber to go down behind enemy lines and return. Foley was awarded the Air medal with two oaks, DFC, Distinguished Unit Citation, Good Conduct medal and the WW2 Victory medal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #6 Posted September 13, 2017 Lassie Two getting a make over in rice plants. Foley is seen kneeling in the bottom of the photo on the far left with two other guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 13, 2017 Share #7 Posted September 13, 2017 nice story about the emergency landing and airdropped parts...always excellent to have a name with a jacket...the story is aces IMO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P-59A Posted September 13, 2017 Author Share #8 Posted September 13, 2017 I re read the original story. Lassie two had engine failure in the number two engine and when they attempted readjusting the other engines they sucked a valve in another engine. To compound problems they had two bombs stuck in the bomb bay. The airfield they landed at wasn't totally abandoned. It did have a tower crew and a C-47 was able to land with tools and parts for the repair. The field was behind enemy lines. Lassie too! is the only bomber to go down behind enemy lines and return with her crew. My bad, over time memories do fade. For the complete story and the pilots diary entry's google "The story of the Billy Mitchell group- from the CIB to the Marianas" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phantomfixer Posted September 13, 2017 Share #9 Posted September 13, 2017 even better to be operating an emergency landing strip under the nose of the Japanese...remote location for sure but still cool.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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