Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Custom Skins => Topic started by: Serenity on June 18, 2007, 11:53:48 PM

Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 18, 2007, 11:53:48 PM: Alright. Guppy was so kind as to send me several books about the 8th AF a while back, and while going through one of them I found a delightful surprise! 'The Mighty 8th' was apparently previously owned by an 8th Air Force Bomber crewmember (Not sure if he was pilot, crew, all I know is his name was Norbert A. Wessel). He made notations throughout the book, marking points especially where it mentioned his unit. After reading several of his notations, I became very interested not only in the man, but also in the group. I was hoping all of you outstanding Heavy Bomber skinners with time on your hands wouldnt mind doing me two favors. I would like a B-24 skin, as well as a B-17G skin for this group (Preferably 835BS in late 1945). I know this person crewed/flew both, and to my delight, in the book he had left an original World War Two photo of the B-24 he flew. So, ill do all the research, get any volunteers all the information they need. So far, this is all have though. Anyone up to the task?

His B-24 Liberator:
(http://www.freewebs.com/stepford_child/ScannedImage-2.jpg)

486th BG's B-17Gs
(http://www.freewebs.com/stepford_child/ScannedImage-3.jpg)
(http://www.freewebs.com/stepford_child/ScannedImage-4.jpg)

Notations on the 486th BG:

"B-24 H and J in olive and grey factory finish, and natural metal. Squadron Codes: 832BS-3R, 833BS-2S, 835BS-H8; in grey on camoflauge. A/c letter also on fuselage foreward of national insignia, both sides. Group markings: O in square. B-17G in natural metal. Squadron codes as B-24. No uniform positioning but squadron codes commonly aft of national insignia and a/c letter foreward. Group markings with blue band towards tip. From late january 1945 wing tips and complete tail section painted yellow; Three parallel bands of yellow round rear fuselage. Existing tail markings remained but at same date squadron codes abandoned and erased. In place nose bands and a/c letter on fuselage (foreward national insignia) in squadron colour; 832BS-Yellow, 833-BS-Medium Blue, 834BS-Red, 834BS-Bright Green. Yellow letters often edged black."

All information and profiles in this post from 'Mighty Eighth'. Picture of B-24 found in the book, on page 168 inserted and captioned 'Our B-24 Liberator' with 345J stamped on the back side of photo.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 19, 2007, 12:17:56 AM: More pictures and info on "Libra" here, including color of the nose art

http://www.b24bestweb.com/Pics-L-LIBRA-LIK.htm

(http://www.b24bestweb.com/images/B24/LIBRA1.JPG)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 19, 2007, 12:19:04 AM: Oh, sir, I meant to ask you, do you have any idea who this 'Norbert A Wessel' was?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 19, 2007, 12:19:48 AM: Info here on Norbert Wessel

He was a bombardier on the Foy Crew

http://www.486th.org/Personnel/W.htm

Info on Foy and his crew with all the names and missions here:
http://www.486th.org/BS834/Foy.htm
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 19, 2007, 01:41:01 AM: So, any of you skinners willing?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 19, 2007, 10:35:33 PM: (http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/8/hippo_bump.jpg)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Kermit de frog on June 20, 2007, 01:36:19 AM: :lol

nice bump
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 20, 2007, 08:38:30 AM: Quote
Originally posted by Kermit de frog
:lol

nice bump

I have one you guys will like more, but considering how close I am to a PNG, I thought it better not to risk it :D

For private viewing though:

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/8/bump.gif

http://www.threadbombing.com/data/media/8/BellyBump.gif
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: The Fugitive on June 20, 2007, 09:21:24 AM: So "being close to PNG" you decided to break the BBS rules a "bump" a thread.

your a wild one, just living on the edge ! :t
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: MotleyCH on June 20, 2007, 09:50:06 AM: If you can find a photo of a B-17G with Noseart, I'll do it.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 20, 2007, 10:33:09 AM: Thanks motley, ill get right on it!

Any takers on the Liberator? Thats the one im really hoping for.

And fugitive, I think skuzzy will understand this bump. If not... well then im f***ed. But im hoping it can be looked past, as motley is the first to express interest in doing the skin.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on June 20, 2007, 03:20:03 PM: ill have a go at the liberator
have u any more pictures of it?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 20, 2007, 03:36:15 PM: From the 486th BG site

http://www.486th.org/Photos/AC2/Libra2.htm

(http://www.486th.org/Photos/AC4/LIBRA508C.jpg)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 20, 2007, 03:39:07 PM: I do believe the profile is from a different time however as the photo shows the markings as

4N with S on the tail
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 20, 2007, 10:24:49 PM: Guppy... you are THE best guy in the world. (Followed shortly by widewing). Ill keep looking myself. Havnt found much on that particular bird, but I havnt been able to devote much time to it. (Ive been getting home VERY late and leaving for school VERY early)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on June 21, 2007, 04:59:19 PM: the 4 n s is when it went to the later squadron .

Any idea what the marking would be on the white box on the tail?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 21, 2007, 05:32:50 PM: Quote
Originally posted by rogerdee
the 4 n s is when it went to the later squadron .

Any idea what the marking would be on the white box on the tail?

The tail marking would be the same as that was the Group ID marking.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on June 22, 2007, 01:37:36 PM: ok but being stupid and not really in to the usaf or usaaf or what ever it was any idea what that maring would be?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on June 23, 2007, 06:33:06 AM: Quote
Originally posted by rogerdee
ok but being stupid and not really in to the usaf or usaaf or what ever it was any idea what that maring would be?

What do you mean by that, the box on the tail? That was a highly-visible group marker. All heavies had them to distingush between units in the maximum effort missions, or when bombing with a PCBW (Provisional Combat Bombardment Wing, usually made up of, if I remember correctly, 3 BGs)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on June 24, 2007, 07:30:10 AM: i mean what letter would be in the white box on the tail.in guppys profile it is a O but what would the bird in your photo have on its tail?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on June 24, 2007, 10:13:42 AM: Quote
Originally posted by rogerdee
i mean what letter would be in the white box on the tail.in guppys profile it is a O but what would the bird in your photo have on its tail?

It would be the O as that is a Group marking not a squadron marking
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on June 24, 2007, 12:30:47 PM: thanks Dan
as u can tell i am not really in to usaf stuff
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: DYNAMITE on July 01, 2007, 02:57:35 PM: I love the'Zodiac' birds from this squad... here are two more nose art shots from other birds in the squad...

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/BigTon/ZLeo.jpg)

(http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y70/BigTon/ZLeoII.jpg)

These are of course from Leo... but i think the second one with the pin up in it is the late war version of the same plane...
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Jappa52 on July 03, 2007, 06:01:50 PM: I attempted the Libra about three months ago but being new to skinning it ended in disaster. Nice to see someone is going to take it on. all of the zodiac squadron’s nose art was incredible...
(http://www.486th.org/BS834/images/Scorpio.jpg)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Fencer51 on July 03, 2007, 06:39:28 PM: I stumbled across a color photo of the Leo nose art. Should I post it?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on July 05, 2007, 08:39:15 AM: yes please
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Fencer51 on July 05, 2007, 09:16:16 AM: If you need it bigger let me know! :rofl

(http://www.4thfg.org/Fencer/scan0057.jpg)
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: derekwessel on July 10, 2007, 11:40:51 AM: Norbert A. Wessel was my grandfather. Can I help with your research? His wife Kathleen Wessel, my grandmother, is still alive.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Guppy35 on July 10, 2007, 02:13:33 PM: Quote
Originally posted by derekwessel
Norbert A. Wessel was my grandfather. Can I help with your research? His wife Kathleen Wessel, my grandmother, is still alive.

Nice of you to stop by. I imagine the book that I sent Serenity was your Grandfathers. I wonder how it ended up at a used book store?

I got it off http://www.abebooks.com
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 10, 2007, 07:54:20 PM: Quote
Originally posted by derekwessel
Norbert A. Wessel was my grandfather. Can I help with your research? His wife Kathleen Wessel, my grandmother, is still alive.

I was simply interested in who he was. Nothing too intense.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: derekwessel on July 10, 2007, 08:04:46 PM: No worries, I can certainly answer any questions you might have. I was suggesting there were more B-17/B-24 pictures like the one you found if folks are looking for someting specific and that my grandmother has them.

Not sure how the book turned up in a used book store. He probably misplaced it years ago. He certainly had a lot of books and we still have them.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 11, 2007, 12:50:37 AM: Quote
Originally posted by derekwessel
No worries, I can certainly answer any questions you might have. I was suggesting there were more B-17/B-24 pictures like the one you found if folks are looking for someting specific and that my grandmother has them.

Not sure how the book turned up in a used book store. He probably misplaced it years ago. He certainly had a lot of books and we still have them.

Check your private messages.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: 64kills on July 11, 2007, 07:53:39 AM: when ru going to show me the avatar
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 11, 2007, 10:59:50 AM: Quote
Originally posted by 64kills
when ru going to show me the avatar

kils, its taking me a bit of time as I have recently been quite busy with school. Please be patient.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: 64kills on July 11, 2007, 12:47:19 PM: Quote
Originally posted by Serenity
kils, its taking me a bit of time as I have recently been quite busy with school. Please be patient.

school schools out oh yeah you live in hawii

cry cry :cry snif snif
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 11, 2007, 07:50:04 PM: Quote
Originally posted by 64kills
school schools out oh yeah you live in hawii

cry cry :cry snif snif

Yeah, and because I intend to have a profitable and important future, im taking next years classes in summerschool so I can get AHEAD of the idiots coasting through life. If you've got a problem with my having a life, I dont HAVE to do you a favor.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 12, 2007, 11:18:22 PM: Alright, as no one has showed any interest in that B-24, ive decided it will be my own first effort at a skin. Mr. Wessel sir, do you have any more pictures of that aircraft you could e-mail me? Also, did your grandfather fly any B-17s with the group? Pictures of those would be appreciated as well, if you have the time.

CadetRobin@aol.com
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on July 13, 2007, 11:45:36 AM: ive started onn the b24 but been having computer problems,ill post some pics over the wek end if i can
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 13, 2007, 10:57:32 PM: Quote
Originally posted by rogerdee
ive started onn the b24 but been having computer problems,ill post some pics over the wek end if i can

Thanks roger. Shall I put mine aside and let you finish it off? Or are your computer problems proving too difficult?
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: rogerdee on July 14, 2007, 08:50:05 AM: i got all my files back now so i can carry on but you can still try yours and we can see waht comes out the best
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 14, 2007, 12:30:55 PM: Yours will, lol. Its my first ever attempt at a skin. Its actually the only skin I can think to do, lol. But ill keep playing with it. It'll probably take a month or two considering im learning it all as I go.
Title: Aircraft of the 486th BG
Post by: Serenity on July 15, 2007, 12:48:18 AM: Hey Roger, I feel bad about asking this, but as I cannot think of any other aircraft to skin, and this one is coming on so well, if Im able to get it decent enough, would you mind letting me submit mine?