The B-29 representing Paul Tibbets' plane, shown landing on Tinian, has a tail designation of "T - Square - 5." In actuality, this was "Joltin' Josie, The Pacific Pioneer." It was the very first B-29 to land on the new runways on Saipan. The film of it landing may very well be the original film of the actual plane arriving at Saipan on 12 October 1944. The "T" on the tail is for the 498th Bomb Group, the "square" means the 73rd Bomb Wing, and plane number 5 was part of the 873rd Bomb Squadron. This aircraft, piloted by Capt. Wilson C. Currier, crashed on takeoff from Saipan on 1 April 1945 with the loss of the entire crew according to the book, "Rain of Fire, B-29s over Japan, 1945" by Charles L. Phillips (USAF Ret.). These images were shot before May, 1945 as after that the bombers were marked with single large letters (with or without a geometric symbol surrounding the letter) on orders of General Curtis LeMay for easier identification when forming up after take-off and while flying in formation to the target.
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05-03-2025 alle ore 08:38