GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #26 Posted December 9, 2012 I think my uncle is the fella on the rim of the bomb crater wearing a pith helmet. It looks like there is a strap dangling from his right hand - maybe a hand held personal camera? This might be on Morotai following a Japanese air raid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #27 Posted December 9, 2012 Another pic with camera. The tropical hilly background might be Munda, but that's a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #28 Posted December 9, 2012 A few B-24's on the flight line. Perhaps Wakde? This may be in the summer of 1944 during the transition from OD aircraft to NMF. Only one plane sports the blue shield on the tail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #29 Posted December 9, 2012 This is later, perhaps Morotai. The Liberators all seem to have the blue shields on the tails. There's an OD C-47 in the background. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #30 Posted December 9, 2012 Here's a long view of the pic from which I cropped the close-up of Mask A Raider. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #31 Posted December 9, 2012 Squirrely Shirley was a long serving 31st Squadron B-24 with a record of never having turned back from a mission. During the 5th Group's third mission to attack the Balikpapan oil facilities in October 1944, its hydraulic system was damaged. The crew deployed parachutes from the waist windows to slow it down as it landed on Morortai. Note the 31st Squadron emblem on the nose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #32 Posted December 9, 2012 November 15th, 1944. 5th Group planes attacking a Japanese task force in Brunei Bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted December 9, 2012 Share #33 Posted December 9, 2012 Looks like he is sitting in a late 1942 Ford GPW. Nice photos, Thanks for posting them; are you going to make more models based on the photos? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #34 Posted December 9, 2012 Bomber Barons somewhere over the Pacific. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #35 Posted December 9, 2012 The 5th Group left The Rock smoking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #36 Posted December 9, 2012 Sgt. Paul J. Hogan, 5th Bombardment Group (H). This pic was used in the Group history book that was published after the war. One of Uncle Paul's 13th Air Force patches and his photographer insignia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #37 Posted December 9, 2012 Reverse of the patches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share #38 Posted December 9, 2012 Nice photos, Thanks for posting them; are you going to make more models based on the photos? I don't have anything in the works at the moment but I had built a 1/48th Australian Spitfire based on Morotai that was "inspired by" a couple of a couple of Spitfire photos in the collection. I may do a 1/6th scale fig. I'm fiddling with scrathbuilding a 1/6th pith helmet. We'll see if it turns out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ashooter Posted December 9, 2012 Share #39 Posted December 9, 2012 Its great to see the pictures of the Bomber Barons and to know the 5th still flys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57Medic Posted December 15, 2012 Share #40 Posted December 15, 2012 Very nicely done. My father was a Liberator pilot inthe CBI as well.I am waiting info ftom the ASPRC in St Louis to pin down the actual unit, as I recall as his unit was the flying Cobras, I am anxious to build a tribute model in his BG colors when I get it nailed down. Great detail, love the photos, thanks for sharing Gary Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
445th Bomb Group Posted December 17, 2012 Share #41 Posted December 17, 2012 Great looking model and excellent photos. Thanks for showing those. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fstop61 Posted December 19, 2012 Share #42 Posted December 19, 2012 Awesome model--really nice to see the photos of the actual plane. Beautiful work! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Signor Posted January 19, 2013 Share #43 Posted January 19, 2013 Very nicely done. My father was a Liberator pilot inthe CBI as well.I am waiting info ftom the ASPRC in St Louis to pin down the actual unit, as I recall as his unit was the flying Cobras, I am anxious to build a tribute model in his BG colors when I get it nailed down. Great detail, love the photos, thanks for sharing Gary Hey gary , the Flying Cobra's were the 9th Bombardment squadron of the 7th Bombardment Group/10th AAF Johnny If you ever want any leather patches of them look me up , I make them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Normandy1944 Posted January 23, 2013 Share #44 Posted January 23, 2013 Can you show us how you build those tractor and fuel tanks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted January 25, 2013 Author Share #45 Posted January 25, 2013 Can you show us how you build those tractor and fuel tanks? It's a bit complicated to explain & I have no in process photos. If memory serves, the tractor was modified from a 1/48th scale "modern" (70's era) Air Force tractor with a covered cab. I can't remember the manufacturer (Esci?). The seat came from the gunner's station of a 1/48th Monogram A-26 Invader. Some parts were scratch built from various styrene sheet or rod stock (like the front axle). I added some solder wire for hoses. The fuel tanks started with a frame made from Plastruct styrene square tubing (fig 1). I found an HO scale semi-truck with fuel tank trailer that I used as the basis for the 4 tanks. I removed the tank & cut it into 4 sections (fig 2). It wasn't long enough on its own so I extended each by wrapping the sections in thin styrene sheet. I "capped" the ends as shown (fig 3). I sanded & puttied the ends to get the curved shape. I drilled a hole in the top of each tank & inserted a short length of styrene tube for the fill hatch. The cap is a small metal washer with various detail bits added for the hinges, etc. The wheels came from a 1/72nd Airfix Scammel tank transporter. The Scammel kit provided a few other odd details as well. The curved wheel fenders were a challenge & my memory is fuzzy on this. They are thin styrene sheet pieces that I think I wrapped around a metal tube of the right diameter & held in place with rubber bands. I dipped the metal tube in boing water to heat form the curved shape. I cut them to length on the tube (actually the "width" of the fender). The pieces were cut to size. If memory serves, the inside curve where the fender joins the tank was the hardest part. I think I glued them to the frame, then carefully cut & sanded the shape through trial and error. (I may have done 1 like this, removed it & used it as a template for the other - not sure). Curves can be sanded by putting a pieces of fine grit wet dry sand paper around a dowel or tube. I added the tanks. Brackets were made from lead foil. Hose is coated doorbell wire. Various metal eyebolts & other odds and ends were added as needed. The fire extinguishers were lengths of tube filled with super glue sanded to shape with details added,. They are not as glossy in person as they appear in the pics. The serial number decals were a lucky find but I can't remember the source. They may have been for a 1/48th scale jeep. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hifastflyer Posted June 1, 2018 Share #46 Posted June 1, 2018 Whow what a shock. I stumbled onto this site and found a model of the B-24 aircraft "Snowjob". This was the aircraft my Dad flew. I may have the answer as to why the starboard vertical stabilizer is olive drab. I'd love to contact the builder of this model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GITom1944 Posted June 5, 2018 Author Share #47 Posted June 5, 2018 I may have the answer as to why the starboard vertical stabilizer is olive drab. I'd love to contact the builder of this model. That would be me. I'd love to find out more. I'll pm you. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hard stripe Posted June 23, 2018 Share #48 Posted June 23, 2018 fantastic pic's & build. thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uwman Posted July 25, 2018 Share #49 Posted July 25, 2018 Excellent!! Wish I could build airplanes.... I may put my tanks down and try my had at an F4U Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtheattack Posted July 27, 2018 Share #50 Posted July 27, 2018 Great job, the real background for the diorama is great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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