I realize this may not be the preferred method of sharing pics on this site, but I still want to share a few pics I have with all of you in hopes that maybe someone knows my grandpa or can tell me more about the pics.  Enjoy.

Matt Byrd

http://news.webshots.com/album/556307973KnlCLL

Hi Matt,
From what I can tell from your Grandpa's picture is that he was with the 5th Bombardment Group (Heavy) of the 13th AAF. The 13th was activated in the Pacific, not stateside. You might posting this request to the 5th BG group in this forum, or check out this 5th BG webpage http://5thbomberbarons.com/
The 5th BG (Heavy) was made up of the 23rd, 31st, 72nd, and 394th Bombardment Squadrons. The webpage mentioned above has a page and list of contacts for each respective squadron. Good Luck and Happy Holidays!
Mark

Mark Bursian, son of
T/Sgt Robert Bursian
Engine and Airplane Mechanic (MOS 747)
10th AAF / 3rd CCG / 10th CCS
330th Airdrome Squadron
Dinjan, India - Myitkyina, Burma - Shanghia, China

Hi,
 
They are mostly pictures of 5th Bomb Group aircraft , with a couple of F-7 Photo Recon ships from 6PRG (RIP SNORTER 7 AMERICAN BEAUTY).  Is it possibly to read the serials of Grandpas plane (44-4????) and SWEET THING (42-73???) on the original photographs?  This would greatly help identification.
 
Since it would appear that he was on Morotai, you might want to have a look at this post, and get hold of Greg Babinski
 
http://forum.armyairforces.com/m_58315/mpage_1/key_/tm.htm#110429
 
Cheers
 
Pete

Matt,
I think your grandpa may have been in the 394th BS.  There were pilots named Lund and Blase, possibly misspelled Blaze on the picture, in the time frame that some of your pictures were taken.
 
Bob

Outstanding.  Is there anyone still alive from the 394th on this site?  I'd love to be able to hear some stories about Grandpa Dolson.  If not are there any website dedicated to the men of the 394th?

In your picture Grandpas Crew.,

http://news.webshots.com/photo/2356325060070111176sGxelr

the airplane shown is POONTANG, generally believed to be a 30 Bomb Group ship.

If so then this pic may have been taken whilst the crew was en-route to the SWPA.  If you can read the serial number with a magnifying glass on the original photo, it would certainly help us to track down the plane and location.

Pete

[image]local://upfiles/3539/3D9BE7D3EE0C488E9BBA1307DAB5B93A.jpg[/image]

Attached Image(s)

Matt,
Can you read the last two numbers of Sweet Things serial number on the original photo?  I think my dad was co-pilot on it for a couple of missions but I only have the last three numbers of the planes the crew flew.

Thanks
Bob

Pete,
unfortunately, i do not have the originals on me.  i'm stationed in hawaii and i had to have my mom scan them and send them to me back from texas.  however, i do have a pretty good photoshop program and i am able to zoom in on it quite a bit and still retain a bit of clarity.  i'm 99.7% certain that the Air Force SN = "44-41995".  Either that or 41005.  I'm not sure how the Army Air Core was but I do know that we currently only use a total of 6 numbers for our modern tail numbers .  The first two being the year it was created.  If that was the case back in the day, then the numbers are playing an optical illusion on my eyes because i definetly see 7.  see picture below for your opinion.  this is as readable as i could make it.  Hopefully it will post it at a decent size.  Please let me know anything this might stir up.

Matt

Bob, this picture is really small so it's much harder to read than the poontang.  as far as i can tell it's 42-79106. 

Gents,
 
Thanks for the pics.  The data block of POONTANG shows it to be a B-24J-170-CO, and the "most likely" serial number is 44-40595, a known 5BG 394BS airplane.
 
SWEET THINGs serial is 42-731xx, and she is also a B-24J.
 
Bob, what is the "last 3" of your Dad's ship.  I can search my database for last 3's and maybe come up with a match.  If it happens to be #150, we probably have a match.
 
Cheers
 
Pete

Pete,
My dad flew missions on four planes with the last three numbers starting with 1.  Three missions on 110, one on 112, one on 135(possibly 42-110135 Wanda Jo), two on 199.  He also flew one on 595 which you say may be Poontang.
 
Bob