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Grouping to J. Doolittle, B-15 Painted Jacket & More, 29th Bomb group


ed101
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I have not posted in some time since I am no longer actively collecting. I picked up this grouping at a local estate sale. It belonged to SFC James Doolittle. He was a CFC Gunner on b-29 "City of Portland", 29th Bomb group (VH), 52nd Bomb Squadron, tail code square "O" victor #48. He flew 35 missions over Japan. The aircraft was damaged 12 times including 3 times in which the props were damaged. The grouping includes a B-15 jacket in very fine condition, only damage is a 3" cut on one sleeve, a few small soiling spots and a few moth damage areas on the knitted sections. The painted back is excellent. Also included is 2 copies of orders for his air medal and oak leaf cluster, and copies of orders for DFC for men in his unit. A copy of "COMBAT DIARY of the 29th BOMB GROUP" with penciled check marks by the missions he was on. A copy of "The Sunday Oregonian" full article "The City of Portland Calls on Tokyo" which mentions him by name. A copy of "Air & Space" magazine that has a photo of "The City of Portland" on Guam. A piece of wall, cut from the Quonset hut on Guam where Otto Schiemann, the flight engineer , charted the missions they flew. There is also a copy of "Bomber Boys" on VHS. Very well preserved, grouping. Also listed in "What is it worth" section.

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Nice acquisition. Do you know what the red fins on the bombs indicate versus the unfilled (on the Quonset cut-out)?

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Patchcollector

Neat stuff.That jacket looks to be in great shape.Just guessing;perhaps the red finned bombs denote incendiary missions?

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Nice acquisition. Do you know what the red fins on the bombs indicate versus the unfilled (on the Quonset cut-out)?

 

white = daylight bombing, red = firebombing (night)

 

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Neat stuff.That jacket looks to be in great shape.Just guessing;perhaps the red finned bombs denote incendiary missions?

 

correct!

 

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I have a grouping to a navigator in the same group SAME PLANE!!!!! I would LOVE to get this to put them together!!!

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I have a grouping to a navigator in the same group SAME PLANE!!!!! I would LOVE to get this to put them together!!!

 

What a coincidence! Do you have a copy of the crew photo?

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Missed this one. Nice group. The paint on the B-15 jacket looks super clean. Painted cloth jackets always seem to hold that minty look more often than their A-2 counterparts.

 

JD

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  • 2 weeks later...
josesharontraders

Missed this one. Nice group. The paint on the B-15 jacket looks super clean. Painted cloth jackets always seem to hold that minty look more often than their A-2 counterparts.

 

JD

Hi JD,

 

This is a wonderful, wonderful set. From your grouping it shows how much resistance the Japanese put up with the bombings. I never realised the B-15s flying over Japan weren't really doing a cake walk, as most were not escorted.

 

Congratulations and thank you for sharing, buddy.

 

Jose

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Hello All,

I went to a party tonight and ran into the woman that ran the estate sale at which I acquired this grouping. She informed me that SFC Doolittle is in an assisted living facility about 40 miles away. I asked her if she thought he would be up to an interview. She said he would probably enjoy it, as he is so proud of his wartime experiences. Here is the problem. I have never done such an interview. What questions would be appropriate and what kind of equipment is best to record it? Any advice would be appreciated. I will post an update if this works out.

Regards,

-Ed

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Hello All,

I went to a party tonight and ran into the woman that ran the estate sale at which I acquired this grouping. She informed me that SFC Doolittle is in an assisted living facility about 40 miles away. I asked her if she thought he would be up to an interview. She said he would probably enjoy it, as he is so proud of his wartime experiences. Here is the problem. I have never done such an interview. What questions would be appropriate and what kind of equipment is best to record it? Any advice would be appreciated. I will post an update if this works out.

Regards,

-Ed

Ed, if you do an interview, please take a video camera. If you go to this link, it has questions and information on how to interview vets. https://www.loc.gov/vets/. Good luck!
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Ed, if you do an interview, please take a video camera. If you go to this link, it has questions and information on how to interview vets. https://www.loc.gov/vets/. Good luck!

 

Thank you! that is just the information I was looking for. Now if the interview can be arrainged.....

Regards,

-Ed

 

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