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| USAAF 5th AF 345th BG 499th BS |
Aircraft History Built by North American Aviation (NAA). Constructor Number 108-34209. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-25J-30/32-NC Mitchell serial number 44-31508. Wartime History During June 1945, assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 345th Bombardment Group (345th BG) "Air Apaches", 499th Bombardment Squadron (499th BS) "Bat Outta Hell" at Clark Field. Assigned to pilot Captain Charles E. Rice, Jr. (operations officer) and crew chief Sharpe. Nicknamed "Betty's Dream" with the nose painted with the squadron's Bat Outta Hell motif painted in a dark midnight blue color. On the left side of the nose below the pilot window was "Pop Rice" in yellow and a scoreboard with 22 bomb markings indicating missions flown and two ship silhouettes. On August 5, 1945 took off on a bombing mission against Tarumizu on Kyushu in Japan. On August 19, 1945 in the early morning took off piloted by Major Wendell D. Decker with Captain Charles E. Rice, Jr. as one of six B-25J Mitchells on a mission to patrol between Kyushu and Ie Shima to locate and escort G6M1-L Betty "Bataan 1" and G4M1 Betty "Bataan 2" with Japanese surrender delegation to Ie Shima Airfield. The lead pair included B-25J Mitchell pilot Lt. Col. Doolittle and B-25J pilot Major Thomas R. Bazzel but failed to spot them. The next pair B-25J Mitchell 43-28115 pilot Major Jack C. McClure, Jr. and this bomber loitered over Suwanosejima and were the first to establish radio contact and spot the Bettys. The last pair B-25J pilot Major Robert F. Todd and B-25J pilot Major Thomas D. Giese remained over Ie Shima. Flying top cover were P-38L Lightnings from 80th Fighter Squadron (80th FS) "The Headhunters". The B-25s were able to established radio contact with the Bettys but reception was poor then made visual contact and joined formation. At one point, the Bettys were flying slightly off course and B-25J 43-28115 pilot Major Jack C. McClure, Jr. took the lead to guide them back to the correct course to land at Ie Shima Airfield on Moko runway. On August 21, 1945 took off piloted by Captain Walter R. Naas with co-pilot Captain Victor W. Tatelman plus the crew and passengers to escort G4M1 Betty "Bataan 2" northward towards Japan then returned to Ie Shima Airfield. On September 6, 1945 took off piloted by Captain Victor W. Tatelman leading a flight of six B-25 via Okinawa to pick up U.S. Army VIPs then flew to Keijo Airfield (Yeouido Airport) near Seoul in South Korea as Japanese personnel stood at attention as this bomber landed. On September 9, 1945 flown back to Ie Shima Airfield. Ultimate fate unknown, likely scrapped or otherwise disappeared. B-25J Mitchell 45-8835 operated by Betty's Dream LLC is painted in the markings of this bomber. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-25J Mitchell 44-30934 Warpath Across The Pacific (2008) by Lawrence J. Hickey pages 210 (photo), 224 (profile 46), 341 (August 5, 1945), 342 (photo), 355-357 (August 19, 1945), 358 (August 21, 1945 photo), 361 (September 6-9, 1945 photo), 390 (499th BS, 44-30934), 432 (Profile 46 description), 437 (index Betty’s Dream) Contribute
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