KITS 01/2023

B-25J-30, 44-30934, 1/Lt Charles E. Rice, Jr., 449th BS, 345th BG, 5th AF, Kadena, Okinawa, July 1945

The most significant mission of the Mitchell named Betty’s Dream was escort of two white Betty bombers aboard

which Japanese peace envoys traveled to le Shima on

August 21, 1945, after the previous surrender in Manila. The aircraft was assigned to 1/Lt Charles “Pop” Rice,

Jr. who later became the unit’s operations officer. The

Betty’s Dream ship was only briefly with the 449th BS,

having been assigned to the unit in June 1945. Due to that,

it showed just a little sign of war wear and tear. The typical drawing of a bat on the nose referred to the unit’s

name, Bats Outa’Hell. The famous Indian head was painted

in its later form, which was the artwork of Cpl. Charles

O. Metzel and was applied on the aircraft of the “Air Apaches” from March 1945.

B-25J-10, 43-28145, 71st BS, 38th BG, 5th AF, Lingayen, Philippines, 1945

The “Sunsetters”, as was the 38th Bombardment Group

known, consisted of four squadrons, of which the 71st BS

was nicknamed “Wolf Pack”. Tis aircraft is known in two

marking states, as it originally sported smaller wolf head

painted on the nose and no bombing mission marks under

the cockpit. Later the wolf head was changed for bigger

one and marks indicating 106 missions were added. Origi-

nally, the side gun packs were fitted, known photos of the

later state of marking show they had been removed. The

decals of this marking option refer to the early version.

Unfortunately, not too much is known about this aircraft.

There was nothing found about it in the squadron’s official records, as many mission reports do not specify the

aircraft participating. There is also uncertainty about the

color of the Estrallita inscription as well as of the wolf’s

head, as it was usually painted either brown or dark gray.

We tend to believe it was brown in this case. Regarding

the Estrallita sign we offer green and red option to choose

from…

B-25J-20, 44-29147, Lt. William J. Faucher, 396th BS, 41st BG, 7th AF, Kadena, Okinawa, July 1945

The 41st Bombardment Group moved from Hawai to Okinawa for the final part of the war in June 1945 and they

were the first unit to use the Mitchells to attack the Japanese home soil since the famous Doolitle Raid in 1942. The

mission No. 1-45 was flown by 15 aircraft which attacked

January 2023

the Chiran airfield on Kyushu Island. The 44-29147 did not

participate but was flown on other occasions. The aircraft was assigned to Lt. “Bill” Faucher, who was usually

in crew with Lt. F. E. Brown as co-pilot. The aircraft was

one of those left in natural metal finish and sported the

girl wearing blue bikini swimsuit on the port side of the

nose. The painting was probably one of many within USAAF

inspired by famous Alberto Vargas’ paintings.

INFO Eduard

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