B-24D with Michigan connection help

General Discussion General Modeling Discussion
1

I have been requested to build a 1/48 B-24D that has some connection to Michigan (something beyond just being built at Willow Run).

I haven’t found any decals that mention “Michigan” or a town/city, specifically.

I am now searching for B-24D crew member/members from Michigan…and getting very frustrated with endless searches, that either don’t mention crew, or if they do, they don’t mention where they’re from.

Closest I have found that would fit the bill, is “Joisey Bounce” (co-pilot and waste gunner from MI). I have found a few others that would work, but those are for later models with the nose turret.

Is there a database somewhere, that would help narrow things down?

2

Its a J

3

I’ve seen that one…and it would be perfect…IF I had a “J” and there were decals!

4

Maybe check with the Yankee Air For even, or the Selfridtw ANGB museum.

5

As far as the -J goes, you can still find the Monogram kit on the secondary market readily enough. You might still find one at the nearest Michael’s or HobbyLobby, too; I still saw them on shelves at those stores long after the Hobbico bankruptcy, as retailers gradually sold out of the old stock.

6

Probably the most famous D is Lady Be Good.

I looked at the flight crew list at the time of her only mission.

The flight engineer and radio operator were from Michigan, and the bombardier was from nearby Cleveland Ohio.

https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Lady_Be_Good_(aircraft)

The members of the Lady Be Good crew were:

  • 1st Lt. William J. Hatton, pilot — Whitestone, New York
  • 2nd Lt. Robert F. Toner, co-pilot — North Attleborough, Massachusetts
  • 2d Lt. D.P. (initials only, also seen as “Dp”) Hays, navigator — Lee’s Summit, Missouri
  • 2d Lt. John S. Woravka, bombardier — Cleveland, Ohio
  • T/Sgt. Harold J. Ripslinger, flight engineer — Saginaw, Michigan
  • T/Sgt. Robert E. LaMotte, radio operator — Lake Linden, Michigan
  • S/Sgt. Guy E. Shelley, gunner — New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
  • S/Sgt. Vernon L. Moore, gunner — New Boston, Ohio
  • S/Sgt. Samuel E. Adams, gunner — Eureka, Illinois

Bill

7

Cleveland?!! That’s them ‘peoples’ from south of the Toledo Strip and Lake Erie! [:D]

8

There are some relics from that ship in the Air Force Museum. That might be a good place to check for information.

In the meantime here’s a couple pictures of B-24s. The Strawberry Bitch I took at the museum way back in 1970. The rest I tcopied from a old book my Father had. There was even a transport version and formation forming aircraft that were very colorful.