A question on WW-2 nose art.

[dg39]

I know the origin of nose art, but my question is: How can and if a planes history can be traced by the artwork alone? I found this in a box of old photographs and it is intriguing.
Who were the crew and where was the plane during the war? It certainly brings up a lot of questions. Its like finding a coin in the middle of a large field and wondering how it got there and why.
DG

 

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[d2]

I got a bud that is crazy about nose art on aircraft. I will check and see if knows anything...d2

 

[Ramitt]

  I think I found it.
http://www.b24bestweb.com/missionbelle-v1-4.htm
and
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-40389/b24-missionbelle.html


Sad end to that plane
"40359 (90th BG, 320th BS) crashed during landing approach due to fog May 24, 1943
at Port Moresby.  All aboard killed.  Condemned May 26, 1943."
http://cgibin.rcn.com/jeremy.k/cgi-bin/gzUsafSearch.pl?target=42-40389&content=

I can't find there names, but this pic shows the crew.
http://www.b24bestweb.com/missionbelle-v1-1.htm

 

[dg39]

Sad end. This picture was taken by someone who served in the pacific. They must have snapped the shot while the plane was laid up . I noticed the canvas on it. Well that anwsers my question. I guess I will contact the website to see if they want a copy of the photo. I did find a photo of the 5th air force, 68 troop carrier squdron, 433 T.C. Group that was with the photos. The man who snapped the photo was probably in that.
Thanks to all!
DG

 

[Ramitt]

Here is som ebetter info, lists crew and a bit about the last mission.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-40670.html

Edit: Turns out this is wrong, this plane and crew were lost on the same mission. I will leave it because it is still intersting history of men who gave there lives for us.

 

[dg39]

Here is som ebetter info, lists crew and a bit about the last mission.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-40670.html

Thanks, that pretty well tells the whole story!
DG

 

[Ramitt]

Top row 2nd from the left is S/Sgt Delray Echohawk a Cherokee Indian form Oklahoma, crew member on the Mission Belle. 

from http://www.kensmen.com/64a11.html

  Looks like Delray survived the war and died in 1970
"10  ECHO-HAWK  DelRay B.      1 May 1920      26 Dec 1970    "
http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/ok/pawnee/cemeteries/pawnee-e.txt

  I wonder if he ever got that Silver Star?

Edit: He was not on Mission Belle, but he was an interesting american hero, so I left this post intact.

 

[Ramitt]

oops major screw up and my google-fu failed me. I did not catch that the info I posted about the aircrew was all wrong. Here is the much more limited report on the mission belle. Sorry for the mistake.

Pilot Gloster
Crashed October 18, 1943

Mission History
On this day B-24s from the 43rd, 90th and 380th BGs encountered bad weather near the Kiriwina Islands en route to bomb Rabaul, and turned back. This bomber was shot down near Kerau.

http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-40389.html

 

[dg39]

Show what can be found out about one litle forgotten snapshot stuck away in an old shoe box full of photos. God bless the crew of the Mission Belle. They were hero's!
Amazing!
DG

 

[Ramitt]

  Sorry for the earlier misinformation, I took a wrong turn by not paying attention to details.  I am hitting failing to find any info online about crew details of the Mission Belle.  I found a great site about the 90th Bomb Group, but sadly they have limited info on this plane and crew.
http://www.jollyrogersweb.com/default.asp

 

[Montana Jim]

Well done Ramitt!

 

[Peerless67]

I never got to meet my "real" grandfather. he was a canadian pilot who served at bigginhill in England which is where my dad was concieved. his name was S/L Robert Allan Kipp DFC DSO he recieved his DFC and DSO from the king at buckingham palace. he was a famous WW11 pilot and after the war returned to Canada and became a pilot with an air display team he died in 1949 in a plane crash while practicing for an airshow in canada. he flew a mosquito called BLACK RUFE
there are pictures and history of him on the net I dont personally have any the only thing my dad has of his is his first 2 names Robert Allan.
heres the link for anyone who is
intrestedhttp://www.geocities.com/cacmossies/