Photo Gallery - Strike Photos
Hey! Is that the Welcome Wagon? (O. Gage)
A 405th squadron (Green Dragons) skip-bombing at Wewak. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
A 71st. Squadron B-25 attacking shipping. (J. Collom/M. Collom)
Beppu Harbor, Japan. Lt. Col. Hawes and his crew were lost attacking this carrier. This aircraft carrier in Beppu that the 38th attacked in August 1945 just before the war ended was likely the escort carrier (CVE) Kaiyo, which has an interesting role late in the war training Japanese kamikaze aircraft and boats for defense of the home islands. Seems the 38th's attack was the final blow to knock her out of the war. Click here for an article on Col. Hawes and his encounter in Beppu Harbor. Click here for a history of the Kaiyo.
Lingayen Airstrip. This picture is used with permission from the 49th Fighter Group website. (K. Clark)
Japanese Freighter going under courtesy of the 38th Bomb Group. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
Look closely at this picture. In the background, see the very well camoflaged Japanese aircraft carrier that is beached. This is the aircraft carrier that Lt. Col. Hawes tried to dive his B-25 into when he realized the plane wasn't going to make it back to base. August 9, 1945. (L. Wilson)
Another 38th Bomb Group strike photo. Not sure of the location. (L. Wilson)
A great strike photo showing the parachute bombs falling from an 822nd squadron B-25. (L. Wilson)
A strike photo from a 405th squadron B-25. Notice the parachute bomb getting ready to hit the hut at the bottom of the picture. (L. Wilson)
The Ultimate Sacrifice. Lawrence Hickey commissioned Steve Ferguson to paint this tribute to Major Ralph Cheli for his history of the 38th "Saga of the Sunsetters." This painting is copyrighted by International Research and Publishing and Lawrence was kind enough to grant us permission to post this to our website. (T. Terrell)
This photo was sent by Dale Howieson (823rd). He stated " I am in this picture. There were 5 planes on this mission. I was #3, just as we flew over the tanker we went through a wall of fire. 1st plane took picture from its belly camera. 2nd plane is over the gunship. 3rd plane (myself) is passing the tanker. 4th plane is coming across the tanker. 5th plane is in the distance." Dale Howieson passed away May 24, 1999 at the age of 78. He flew 52 missions with the 823rd Squadron.
This is a large picture (may take a couple of minutes to see the full size version) of a 71st. squadron B-25 dropping parachute bombs. (USAF)
An 823rd B-25 climbing after a strike. (USAF)
A tail gunners view of a raid on the Japanese airfield at Saidor, New Guinea. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
This picture was taken during a raid on Gloucester and at first, appears unremarkable. But, on close examination several interesting details are present. In the middle right side are bullet or shell strikes in the water, while the line of disturbed water to their left was caused by the propwash of the B-25 that this picture was taken from! At the top left corner are three small specks, they are incoming B-25s. Thanks to Ed Connor for pointing these details out. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
A Japanese airbase somewhere in the Phillipines, before the 38th bombed it. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
Group formation off the coast of New Guinea. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
Dagua Air Drome. The 38th are dropping parafrags and bombs. (E. Connor, H. Witcher)
Zero trying to become airborne during a 38th attack on a Japanese airfield. (E.Connor, H. Witcher)
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