15th Airforce Bombardier

[Megalodon]

Currently, I'm working working for this fellow <57yr> and his family. His father was a bombardier on a B-24 in the 15th Air Force. I believe it was the 49thBW, 484thBG,  825thBS from what I have been able to find.

I got to talking with him and he mentioned that he had been to a few of his fathers reunions when he was younger but had never seen a picture of his fathers plane. He had seen a model of the plane his older brother had made many years ago. He described to me a parasol and a girl and he new the name "Luscious Lucy" and a desire to know more.

Make a long story short his father was shot down in one of the Romanian raids. Only he and 2 others got out of the plane. He was picked upped by the Romanian underground and made it back. He kept a piece of the silk from the parachute and the family still has it.

Recently his Father, Brother<Nam Vet>, and his co worker/buddy best friend have all passed on.... I have not shown him this picture and I don't believe his sister knows anything about it.


I would like to present this to him with the rest of the B-24 in a black wire frame around/blended in line with the picture...Blown up so that the picture itself would be 8x10 or so, framed, matted black and white, under glass. It could be done in any style  freehand art, blueprint, profile, space pen <G>, paint, pencil sketch... etc...Something really nice. Christmas would be great but anytime would work...I have been able to find a few reference photos... Any Takers?

Thanks  

Cheers and Happy Holidays,
Fin

[GhostCDB]

You aren't asking us to skin it, but you are asking that we paint it? Am I correct?

[GhostCDB]

 

Whatever you do, do not type "LUSCIOUS LUCY, 484BG" in Google search.
I made the mistake, just a heads up to anyone looking for information on the skin as well. 

[GhostCDB]

The 484th Bomb Group was trained in Harvard, Nebraska in 1943 with B-24s and deployed to Italy in March 1944. The group arrived in Cerignola, Italy where the gently rolling mounds of the Foggia plain awaited them. In prewar days the Italian Airforce trained near Foggia too. The 484th BG took over farmland where wheat was once grown. Dual North and South runways were laid out and paved with crushed gravel, and later improved with pierced steel planking, a dubious improvement especially when it rained.
The group brought 60 new olive drab B-24s to the airfield at the Torretta crossroads about 12 K southeast of Cerignola, itself 35K south of Foggia. The group started out with about 3 trained crews of 10 men for every B-24. This would vary depending on losses and availability of replacements. In the one year of combat operations over 5000 soldiers and airmen passed through the group. Replacements were brought in to fill in the Table of Organization (TO) due to casualties, illness and to replace flight crews who had finished their combat tours. For a battle area that was expected to offer light resistance tours were set at 50 missions. However resistance was stiff from both fighter aircraft and flak cannons. Credit was shortly reduced to 35 Missions, and modified again by giving double credit to long and arduous missions. Flight crews were given leave to rest camps at the halfway point of 18 sorties. Ground echelon personnel were given leave also when conditions permitted it. One such camp was on the Isle of Capri.

( http://web.archive.org/web/20041130191546/http://members.aol.com/bud484bg/about484.htm )

A little more information, regarding the unit itself.

[Rogue9Volt]

This popped up when I ran a search on the 49th/484th.  Looks like a reunion group, might be you could contact these guys for more info..

http://www.15thaf.org/49th_BW/484th_BG/

Some cool photos under "Aircraft" though none that I could see of "Luscious Lucy".

http://www.15thaf.org/49th_BW/484th_BG/Aircraft/Aircraft.html

[GhostCDB]

I have a 15th AF Book, it doesn't have any images of the A/C. I am assuming there won't be many pictures of the A/C because of the simple fact it was shot down.

I am not sure if this is the same A/C but it has the identification number. Also it was apart of the correct unit per the tail markings. The red fill on top with the bow under the red fill was the identification marking for 484th unit.

[Megalodon]

You aren't asking us to skin it, but you are asking that we paint it? Am I correct?

Actually... I would like the actual picture as part of the art and the art would be the rest of the B-24 not shown in the picture. It could be in any medium in black and white. I put the post here where I thought the artists in AH would see it, what you guys do is art.

I am pretty sure that was not his plane as I have found 3 #38's in the 825thBS. His plane went down and impacted, he and 2 others got out  <parachute>. The rest of the crew died in the plane. His units 1st 24's were dark olive drab.

Another shot of the plane you posted



Another Photo of "Luscious Lucy"




I may ask for "Luscious Lucy" to be skinned at some point in the future as I am showing this gentleman the game. He just got his 1st computer about 4 months ago, so he is not computer savvy. He seams to be very interested and is trying offline. He retired from Big Brown after 30 years.. 15yrs delivering pkgs 15yrs long haul. Pretty much just getting to know his family again minus the losses.

If you would like to skin it ...by all means ...have at it,


Thank you,


 

[Masherbrum]

You aren't asking us to skin it, but you are asking that we paint it? Am I correct?

He is asking that a complete B-24 mockup of the "skin/art" include that original Black & White photo.    Cool concept that has some major historical significance.   

Fin, good luck in your quest and hopefully someone can come through for you.

[Megalodon]

He is asking that a complete B-24 mockup of the "skin/art" include that original Black & White photo.    Cool concept that has some major historical significance.    

Fin, good luck in your quest and hopefully someone can come through for you.

 Hey K   Happy Holidays

Yes that is right  The whole picture when blown up would be approx 24"x18" or so. I know there are plenty of folks that are capable in all different styles of art.
Some reference photos and other material here. http://www.angelfire.com/wv/liberator/

Maybe something similar to this style except showing only the out side of the plane and line up the picture in where it fits in. Black and white or slight color would be fine historically correct.


Or this style would be great




TY K,