Just Promoted

[dan swiger]

Another one of my Ebay finds.
I'm suspecting this in the European theater, probably based in England.
The fighter pilot, with the Clark Gable good looks, seems to have been promoted recently.
Note the darkened paint around "Maj." Most like it said "Capt" before.
Not sure what kind of plane this is. Might be a P-47. Haven't found a match on researching types.

 

[AlanLichty]

Interesting find.

Do you have any clue what you are going to find when you buy these negatives?

 

[Ben Egbert]

Great find, I wonder if S/Sargent Lambert was a second crew member, which would narrow down the aircraft choices as many of these planes were single seaters.

 

[dan swiger]

Interesting find.

Do you have any clue what you are going to find when you buy these negatives?

Alan, You can see the negative/positive image on the Ebay listing.
I could tell this one had some serious blemishes, but the content won out
It did take 10-15 minutes of spotting & cloning to get it "right"

 

[dan swiger]

Great find, I wonder if S/Sargent Lambert was a second crew member, which would narrow down the aircraft choices as many of these planes were single seaters.

Ben, The SSgt was most likely the crew chief but not flying. They were usually assigned for the duration.

 

[JimFox]

Very cool Dan! I am sure enjoying these old negs you have gotten. What a cool piece of history. I wonder if this person, or his family knew these photos existed?

 

[dan swiger]

Very cool Dan! I am sure enjoying these old negs you have gotten. What a cool piece of history. I wonder if this person, or his family knew these photos existed?

I tried a few searches but nothing clearly related. Would have to figure out units, dates.

 

[dan swiger]

Very cool Dan! I am sure enjoying these old negs you have gotten. What a cool piece of history. I wonder if this person, or his family knew these photos existed?

Jim, just got this info from another site

"
Joseph H Richardson

MILITARY

• 
  

• 
• 

Joseph Richardson served as a pilot with the 558th Bomb Squadron of the 387th Bomb Group. He completed 20 missions. On 25 February 1944 he was reported as Missing in Action. His body has never been found but his name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial.
"
He was flying a B26

 

[AlanLichty]

Nice sleuthing work. The pilot's window in the top image didn't look like the right configuration for a single seater since the canopy overhead is fixed.

 

[Littlefield]

This shows the plane more, B-26 Marauder,” Heavenly Body.”
Don

http://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/1779

​

 

[dan swiger]

Nice sleuthing work. The pilot's window in the top image didn't look like the right configuration for a single seater since the canopy overhead is fixed.

Looking over the 387th Bombardment Group history, the B-26 were medium bombers.
Their main task in 1944 was bombing the "V" weapons sites (V1 & V2), probably in Northern France.
There's might have included low level to insure accuracy.