B-29 “Double Trouble” Is “Mister Bee”: Radar Photography of and Bombing Japan During World War Ii My North Carolinian Father in the Crew of the "Lone B-29" Boeing Superfortress Bomber Flying the Longest Nonstop Combat Mission of World War Ii Volume Two: Photographs

By Colonel Charles A. Jones

This book is the story of Elmer C. Jones, a young man who grew up during the Great Depression and who joined the military in 1943, becoming a member of the Army's Air Corps in 1944. He was the radar observer of a B-29 Superfortress bomber crew flying 28 combat missions over Japan in 1945--13 bombing missions and 15 photographic reconnaissance missions, including the longest mission of the war: 4,650 miles in 23:00 hours. He accumulated 489:50 combat flying hours during the war.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 15, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664142190

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Colonel Charles A. Jones. 822512

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This book is a private project completed by the author and represents his opinions and not those of the US government, National Park Service, Department of Defense, or any branch of the military service. Section 2-304 of the Joint Ethics Regulations (DoD 5500.7-R) permits the author’s use of his military service and title in this book.

Contact the author at [e-mail].

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

Rev. date: 11/12/2020

Volume II:

Photographs

VOLUME II: PHOTOGRAPHS

Enola%20Gay%20left%20side%20-%20Copy.JPG

Tinian, 1945. The author’s maternal uncle, Vance Mateer (left), at the left front of ENOLA GAY. Mateer worked on B-29s while stationed on Tinian. Note the arrow in a circle on the tail of the B-29 in the background, the insignia of the 509th Composite Group, the command of the atomic bombers stationed on Tinian. During the atomic bombing mission, ENOLA GAY had an R in a circle on her tail, the insignia of the 6th Bomb Group of the 313th Bomb Wing (Tinian) so any Japanese aircraft observer seeing the ship during the atomic bombing mission would think she was from a familiar bomb group and not from an unknown special bomb group as may be thought if the arrow, apparently unfamiliar to the Japanese, were seen during the atomic mission. From the Vance Mateer collection of wartime photographs (after he died in 1987 our family obtained this photograph and the photograph of the right nose of ENOLA GAY with the lettering First Atomic Bomb Hiroshima—August 6, 1945).

Enola%20Gay%20R%20BEST%20B-29%20TRIP%20CHIP%206%20113.JPG

Left-side view of the restored ENOLA GAY with false R insignia (Sixth Bomb Group) as explained in caption of photograph on preceding page. Note that the rear turrets have been removed. She is displayed at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Museum. Author’s photograph (2015).

Enola%20Gay%20right%20side.JPG

Right nose of ENOLA GAY with lettering not original to the ship and not found on the restored ship at the Smithsonian’s Udvar-Hazy Museum: First Atomic Bomb Hiroshima—August 6, 1945. From the Vance Mateer collection of wartime photographs.

Enola%20Gay%20right%20front%20B-29%20TRIP%20CHIP%206%20117.JPG

Right front of ENOLA GAY. Note absence of atomic bomb language on the right side of the restored ship that was present in 1945 after the Hiroshima mission; see photograph on preceding page. Note also that the front turrets have been removed. Author’s photograph (2015).

Enola%20Gay%20%26%20CAJ%20%26%20Vance%20photo%20DR.%20%26%20B-29%20TRIP%20CHIP%206%20152.JPG

The author in front of ENOLA GAY holding photocopies of black-and-white 1945 photographs of the ship from the collection of his uncle, Vance Mateer, who worked on B-29s on Tinian. Author’s photograph (2015).

Enola%20Gay%20nomenclature%20a%20DC%20two%20039.JPG

Everything and everyone in the military has a number; ENOLA GAY is no different.

Compare this view of her serial number with the view of Aircraft Commander Tom Bell of P-10, who is leaning out his window on P-10 in a photograph in the photographic volume of this work. P-10’s serial number is under his two hands and to the left of the D of DOUBLE TROUBLE. Author’s photograph (2015).

ECJ%20as%20child-16_2155.jpg

Future World War II B-29 radar operator Elmer C. Jones, date and age unknown. Elmer C. Jones photograph collection.

Our%20Gang-15_2154.jpg