P-51s and B-29s on Iwo Jima (1945)
 

http://picasaweb.google.com/7thfight...63756877317266

Some great pictures that I have never seen before.
I particulary enjoy the past/present pictures.

Very nice pics. There must be thousands of unseen photos buried within personal photo albums of veterans, hopefully they will see the light of day.

Thanks, way way cool!

B24
 

Thank you, amazing stuff when you think about it. Thanks again for sharing.

Having flown to/from IWO many times with CVW-5, I'm still amazed when I see pictures like these and remember just how fortunate I am to have been able to be on the island much less fly from its runway and always pay tribute to those that went before us on Invasion beach.

On a lighter note, you haven't experienced golf, until you've played night golf on IWO, drove the LSO van to the top of the 'Bach' after dark or tried to find the McDonalds!

I've always been very jealous of your 'Navy' boys who got to spend so much time on Iwo with CVW-5. :D
My sole attempt was during my first deployment, but with our configuration we were limited without planning to land there and the weather was just to iffy.
Btw BDGERJMN - do you know 'Oyster' - former LSO in CVW-5. Might be a little before your time but I'm sure stories abound!

It looks like the B-24 was hit by a bomb from another aircraft in the formation. :(

I've often wondered if that B-24 was blown up by a bomb falling from above... that's what it always looked like to me. Didn't look like there was much flak in the air at the time.

Sadly, looking at the spin rate, I'd guess the crew were pinned by G forces and unable to move, much lass bail out.

I do not know 'Oyster', most likely before my time (Dec 01-Jan 05). Weather is always iffy. Hornet 1 approaches for all my friends and arresting gear on the taxiways. Nothing like a little AB on the heavy waveoff knocking over the expeditionary ILS. Good times!