Picture Quiz

velasco_p47_01.jpeg

That's the name of the pic you posted, wph.
Anyone want to take a swing at that one now?

 

Close. Name of squadron?

 

I know I didnt change the pic title, but it wasnt a new quiz, as my answer for the previous was not declared correct. I was simply posting an example of a Mexican Expeditionary Force aircraft, related to my answer. I would hope everyone knows what a P-47 Thunderbolt is!!! And the name of the squadron was...201st Mexican Fighter Squadron, or Escuadron Aereo de Pelea 201??

 

Yes wph377, you're next.

 

K... What is the significance of this exact aircraft?

 

Sorry all... didn't realize the pic would be so small, the name is not legible. Guess I failed this one here. If anyone still wants to try for it, the name of the aircraft is "Hobo Queen". That should make it quite easy.

 

I see, my apologies.

 

The Hobo Queen:

Four B-32s from the 386th BS of the 312th BG based at Yontan, Okinawa were given a three-day photoreconnaissance mission near the end of the War. On the third day of the mission, August 18, 1945, two aircraft were forced to turn back and only two aircraft, the Hobo Queen and the Hobo Queen II made it to Japan. The mission involved photographing an area north and east of Tokyo. The aircraft were unescorted, as the War was for all practical purposes over. As the two aircraft prepared to head home they were jumped by a large group of Japanese fighters including Imperial Navy A6M2 Zeros and Army Ki44 Tojos. The first attacks occurred at 1:30 PM while the aircraft were at 20,000 feet. The enemy planes made ten passes on the Hobo Queen II with little or no damage. About twenty-five passes were made at the Hobo Queen, which was under the command of Lt. John R. Anderson. Seven passes were made at the tail of the B-32 and one of the attackers blew-up. One fighter pass was made at the ball turret from below with no success, and another six were made at the forward upper turret. About six more were made at the nose turret position, and several more at the upper rear turret. Another enemy fighter blew up, and a third was seen going down smoking. The pilots went to full mix and full throttle and power-dived the B-32 from 20,000 to 10,000 feet. The Hobo Queen absorbed a lot of damage during these attacks. The radioman got the Hobo Queen II to regroup with the badly damaged Hobo Queen to provide some cover. Three men were wounded including Sgt. Anthony J. Marchione, SSgt. Joseph M. Lacharite, and Sgt. John T. Houston. Marchione and Lacharite were at the camera hatch at the rear of the aircraft when that section of the plane was riddled. Both men were hit. Despite his own wounds, SSgt. Lacharite began administering first aid to Marchione, but a second fighter pass wounded Marchione again. Despite the valiant efforts of his crewmates to keep him alive, Marchione passed away at 2:00PM. Sgt. Marchione may have been the last USAAF combat casualty of the War. SSgt. Chevalier administered first aid to SSgt. Lacharite during the long ride home. Despite being unable to bank his aircraft due a feathered prop, Lt. Anderson got the Hobo Queen down successfully.

 

Did I get the answer right?

 

Sorry guys, I was at work. Yes, correct answer. Thanks Slipdigit. I did kinda get that members could click on the thumb to enlarge, but even still, the nose art was too small. But thank you for telling me how to post a pic better... I was wondering how to post it larger
Over to you NavyDave...

 

And imagine being the last??? I mean, what a raw deal. I suppose it has to be someone, though. Still, I would imagine that the government didn't exactly offer up that little tidbit to the man's family. A hero nonetheless. I salute him!!!

 

OK, the Navy guy will ask another Navy question. Let's see if you can handle it.

What ship is this that is about to be struck, and what historical significance does it have?

 

Slipdigit, that is correct. The significance of the USS Missouri?

That was the ship the Japanese signed their surrender on. It signaled the end of the war against the Japanese. Many Generals, Admirals and Ambassadors from other countries were onboard to sign the unconditional surrender of Japan.

USS Missouri (BB-63) ("Mighty Mo" or "Big Mo") is a United States Navy Iowa-class battleship, and was the fourth ship of the U.S. Navy to be named in honor of the U.S. state of Missouri. Missouri was the last battleship built by the United States, and was the site of the surrender of the Empire of Japan which ended World War II.
Missouri was ordered in 1940 and commissioned in June 1944. In the Pacific Theater of World War II she fought in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa and shelled the Japanese home islands, and she fought in the Korean War from 1950 to 1953. She was decommissioned in 1955 into the United States Navy reserve fleets (the "Mothball Fleet"), but reactivated and modernized in 1984 as part of the 600-ship Navy plan, and provided fire support during Operation Desert Storm in January/February 1991.
Missouri received a total of 11 battle stars for service in World War II, Korea, and the Persian Gulf, and was finally decommissioned on 31 March 1992, but remained on the Naval Vessel Register until her name was struck in January 1995. In 1998, she was donated to the USS Missouri Memorial Association and became a museum ship at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Good catch Slipdigit. You are up my friend.

 

How is that easy? I can't tell if it is a flame throwing person or tank or something on the sea, or just what the heck is in there!

Is it some "famous" pic I cannot recall?

 

Thanks for the hints, although I missed the original posting of the photo.

I'm in the process of reading Sea of Thunder, which is a book ALL about Halsey, Captain Evans of the Johnston, Kurita, and Ugaki.

So my final answer is the Battle of Leyte Gulf, 1944. Kurita's Force slips through the unguarded San Bernandino Strait, although under heavy air attack. Kinkaid's Seventh Fleet is occupied with the Japanese push through Surigao Strait. Halsey's Third Fleet has chased Ozawa's fighter-less carriers to the north. Task Force 34 has not been formed and left behind to guard San Bernandino Strait as Kinkaid and High Command had believed.

Kurita's damaged ships meet Taffy Three, a small, auxiliary force of carriers meant to support the landings. The surface ships attack. Amazing feats by the American destroyers and pilots, as well as sound jugdment from Admiral Clifton Sprague save the day. Kurita's cautious nature and poor coordination make things worse for the Japanese. Even so, they score a minor victory here, only to turn back for an unknown reason, possibly to avoid certain death, although ostensibly to seek out Halsey (outrageous, he was more than 300 miles away).

Carrier could be the Gambier Bay, but I can't be sure. Of course, I could be WAYY off the mark and just be sounding like a fool