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Iwo Jima P-51 pilot - 462nd Fighter Squadron


Waltz41
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I had the great opportunity recently to go through some items of a vet who was a P-51 pilot for the 462nd Fighter Squadron of the 506th Fighter Group. In doing some research and continually looking for items as a historian for the 506th, I got in contact with the son of Darrell Bash. His son is a retired (2015) Lt. General in the USAF! He volunteered to send me some of his items that he had for the purpose of scanning and photographing the items for the archives. I was surprised at some of the items he sent me, and he still has some other items like a day clock from his dad's P-51 he last flew on Iwo and his A-2 jacket. The items were organized, scanned, photographed, and then I put them in a nice 3 ring binder. I just recently sent all the items back to his son, who was very appreciative of the whole experience of sharing his father's story.

 

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Lt. Bash and a P-51D in the 462nd FS, which you can clearly see their squadron insignia painted on. Also of note is the larger style drop tanks the VLR Mustangs used in their 8+ hour mission trips to the Japanese mainland.

 

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A bit of a blurry photo, but shows the original striped tails that the 506th FG used. These were eventually painted solid colors, with the 462nd FS being yellow.

 

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Silk escape map, and the plastic holder for it. Also has the instructions on how to use the maps inside.

 

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Pretty neat newspaper from the North American company (who produced the P-51). Article on the Iwo P-51's, which the 15th and 21st FG took first 'swings' at the Japanese mainland in early April of 1945. The 506th arrived in May of 1945.

 

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Original citations for his Air Medal and clusters, as well as a copy of his confirmation of one aerial victory.

 

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Scrap book photos, including a photo of the officers of the 462nd FS on the top left, and on the top right, a few shots of the officer's club for the squadron on Iwo Jima.

 

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Training days....check out the note on 1-14! Not too long after that is was traveling time and eventually it's in the P-51 on Guam then to Tinnian!

 

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The 506th from it's inception was always meant to be a VLR group. This meant long flights over the ocean to Japan, and so from the beginning they assigned 2 pilots per Mustang, figuring pilots would not be able to make consecutive flights of that nature. On the canopy rail, you can see the other pilot's name, Lt. Ed Linfante.

 

Here is Bash, with the the ground crew of the P-51.

 

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