I am a new member to these boards so allow mw to introduce myself: My name is Chris Chase. I am the nephew of co-pilot of the B-29 'Lucky Leven', T Square 6, Sn. # 42-24695. He was the original co-pilot in the states and stayed with the plane until the wars end.
I am currently researching a book covering the history of the original 15 aircraft from the 873rd BS ( the first to land on Saipan). My uncle’s plane was the last of the original 15 still left in combat at the wars end and one of only two original A/C that survived the war.
It was not replaced by a weather strike aircraft, as has been reported elsewhere, but rather became a weather strike aircraft and continued to fly with the 873rd. The main focus of the book will be on this plane and its crew but in telling this story, the greater story of the 498th will also be told and to a lesser extent the story of the 73rd BW and it’s combat operations against the Japanese Empire.
As my primary sources I will be using the 873rd BS unit history, the 498th BG unit history and the 73rd BW history (I have original copies of all three in my archives), 400+ pages or personal correspondence from my uncle that was written during the war and copies of the navigators log and crew members diaries.
In addition I have available to me over 200 previously unpublished photographs of aircraft and ground ops as well as few stunning combat photos from crew members and an additional 50 or so group and squadron specific strike photos.
But enough about me and what I do in my off time when no one is looking.
 
I am looking for high resolutions scans of 873rd aircraft and 498th combat ops photographs. While I have the more famous of the original 15 aircraft well documented photographically, I am missing several aircraft that are either not as well know or had no nick name/nose art.
They are listed below.

T1,   42-63430, Ditched 13 Dec 44; McCandliss crew lost
T3,   42-24608,Crashed on Saipan 4 Feb 45; Stendahl crew survived
T7,   42-24603, Damaged on Saipan 27 Nov 44, w/o 18Dec44
T8,   42-24645, Ditched 8 Nov 44; Tracek crew, 2 survived
T10, 42-63428, Destroyed on Saipan 27Nov44
T11, 42-63522, Raidin' Maiden, Later T9 Devil's Darlin' II
T12, 42-63443, Shirley Dee, Was also T25 and T37; Only other original plane to survive  war
T14, 42-24471, W/O  May 45; Tunnell crew
T15, 44-69747, Lost 10 Mar 45; Kordsmeier crew (midair?)
T16, 44-61666, Sweet Sixteen, ditched 1Jun45; Yount crew survived
 

I am also looking for original crew photos (with names) I have Crew #1 in my collection but I am having a devil of a time finding the other original 14 crews. These photos appear in the unit histories but are to small and grainy to use for reproduction.  
 
Any help will be greatly appreciated and you will be fully credited for any photos used and your scans WILL NOT show up on eBay for sale.

It would be very interesting to see the phots of Saipan of that time. My dad was a aircraft armoror in the 318FG 73rd FS and I remember him telling me that he watched the first B 29s land there. It had to be in the very early sixies when he told me that, as I was about 8 -10 yrs old and building the 1/72 scale model of "Joltin Josie"? I've looked through his photos and the only B 29 is the nose of "TOKYO ROSE". But that could have been on his way back to the states. I have his boarding pass to leave North Field Tinian Oct. 1945 and it lists the crew, passengers and ac #. He was passenger #5.  

Bar Flies insignia 73FS 318FG 7AAF

HMF - Just a FYI
" Tokyo Rose " was in the 3d PRS
1st B - 29 / F - 13A to fly Recon Mission to Tokyo.
Mike 

The F-13 Tokyo Rose (42-93852) was originally T square 12 of the 873rd BS before moving to the 3rd PRS. It was the third of four A/C to carry the T12 tail marking.
 
I will make all of the photos I have available on line once the book is published. I have tons of stuff that is interesting but falls outside of the scope of the book. I want to establish a 73rd BW website for photos and personal correspondence. More about the men who fought than about the aircraft
 
 If you are just interested in period photos of Saipan there is a guy on eBay who sells CDs of his fathers pics (an 875th BS vet) from Saipan for about $5. Tons of great stuff there. I will be using few of his photos
 
 For all of you 500th BG people out there one chapter of the book will cover Maj. Robert Sewell who was lost on April 4th of 1945 in Z Square 31. He was the original aircraft commander of ‘Lucky Leven’ through stateside training and for the first 7 combat missions before transferring to the 500th BG. I have about 30 pages of correspondence between my family and his concerning his loss and the final disposition of his crew.
 

Best regards
Chris

"But my mom told me I was smart and cute....... she wouldn't have lied to me..........would she?"

Chris,
 
I'm always looking for unit histories, group photos (squadrons, crews, etc) for my website.  I'd be grateful for anything you'd care to pass my way that doesn't infringe on your book.  Thanx!
 
Gary
 

Gary

CBI Unit Lineages & History
http://www.cbi-history.com/