Thanks to Greebo for his in-depth explanation of Normal Mapping software options, Devil505 for patiently explaining gradients so I could draw the camera housing in the proper shape for the Normal Map to render it properly, and the encouragement from Oboe (who also supplied the pilot figure, which I have slightly modified), FTJR, and Lyric1. Lyric1 also did his usual amazing job in digging up background information and photos on this one.
My PC shows it differently than my laptop, the latter on which I drew it. For some reason the metal looks better on the laptop and I can't figure out why. I must have a setting wrong somewhere is the only thing I can figure. It is what it is.
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P-51D-10-NA (F-6D), s/n 44-14841
#66
Capt. William A. “Bill” Shomo
71st Tactical Reconaissance Group, 82nd Tactical Reconaissance Squadron
Mindoro, Philippines, 1945
This is the F-6D-10-NA Mustang #66 (s/n 44-14841) of ace Capt. William Arthur "Bill" Shomo of the 71st Tactical Reconaissance Group, 82nd Tactical Reconiassance Squadron, 5th Air Force, as flown on his seven-victory Medal of Honor Mission out of Mindoro in the Philippines. The F-6D was an armed photographic reconaissance version of the P-51D Mustang with more than half a dozen different camera installations each possessing varying capabilities (compare this one with Clyde East's F-6D* for example). This plane is unusual in that it is not only filthy, but the top of the left wing lacks the national insignia and the typical cross markings used to line up photos on most F-6Ds.
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https://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php/topic,401318.0.htmlBorn 30 May 1918 in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, Shomo enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on 18 August 1941 as an aviation cadet and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant after completing his flight training. Assigned to the Southwest Pacific with the 71st TRG, 82nd TRS as a P-39 Airacobra pilot ("Snooks" and "Snooks 2nd" were two of the names given to his white-tail P-39Qs), Shomo flew photo reconnaissance missions from Dobodura, Saidor, and Tadji Airfields over Japanese targets on the northern coast of New Guinea.
In Mid-June 1944 his unit moved to Borokoe Airfield on Biak and it was from here, on 2 September 1944, that Shomo took off in a P-40 Warhawk leading a flight of three P-39Qs on armed reconnaissance. The mission was aborted due to bad weather and the three Airacobras went missing with Shomo being the lone aircraft to return safely.
On 1 October 1944 the squadron moved to Morotai Airfield and transitioned to F-6Ds. On 29 December 1944, five days after Shomo was made Squadron Commander, the 82nd began operating from Hill Airfield ("Hammer") on Mindoro and he subsequently claimed his first victory--a D3A in the landing pattern over the Japanese airfield at Tuguegarao on 10 January 1945.
On 11 January 1945 he took off from Hill Field in the then-unnamed F-6D #66 (s/n 44-14841, later known as "Snooks 5th") with wingman Lt. Paul Lipscomb (in s/n 44-14873) on an armed photographic and strafing mission mission over northern Luzon. While flying at low altitude the two Mustang pilots sighted a formation of enemy planes headed south at 2,500 feet.
Outnumbered by more than 6-to-1 Shomo ordered an attack any way. The two American pilots each pulled into an Immelmann turn and found themselves behind a gaggle of eleven Ki-61 Tonys and a Ki-44 Tojo escorting a G4M Betty. Shomo fired on the lead Ki-61 of the third element causing it to explode, then went after the second element from the left and shot another Tony down in flames. He continued his attack on a third Ki-61 which exploded then fired into the belly of the Betty causing it to crash and burn. He shot down the Ki-44 in a head on pass then dove on the first element and destroyed another Tony. He continued his dive and fired on another another Tony causing it to crash in flames.
Lt. Lipscomb was also successful, scoring three victories of his own for a total of 10 between them. The three remaining enemy fighters fled into the clouds and escaped.
Among U.S. pilots, only Navy Hellcat ace David McCampbell scored more victories (nine) on a single mission than Shomo's seven. For his actions Shomo earned the Medal of Honor. He finished the war with eight aerial victories and nineteen aircraft destroyed on the ground.
Shomo continued in the service and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on 20 February 1951. In March 1952 he became Executive Commander and Administrative Officer for the 175th Fighter Interceptor Squadron (FIS) at Rapid City Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota. He directed combat operations at 31st Air Division Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota for a year then became Commander of the 14th FIS at Sioux City, Iowa. He also commanded a similar squadron, the 59th FIS, at Goose Bay, Labrador in January 1955, and led the squadron to victory in the Northeast Air Command Rocket Meet that June.
Shomo next became Commander of Headquarters, 473rd Air Defense Group and in July 1957 took over the 54th Fighter Group at the Greater Pittsburgh Airport. In January 1958, he became Executive Officer for HQ 79th Fighter Group at Youngstown Municipal Airport in Ohio. His last assignment was at Thule AFB, Greenland, with the 4683rd Air Defense Wing, before retiring in 1968. He passed away on 25 June 1990 at the age of 72.
In addition to the Medal of Honor, Shomo was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with four bronze oak leaf clusters, the Army Commendation Medal with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, the American Defense Service Medal, the Bronze star, the American Campaign Medal with one bronze service star, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two silver and bronze campaign stars, the World War II Victory Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal with 'Japan' clasp, the National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star, the Air Force Longevity Service Award with silver oak leaf cluster, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Philippine Liberation Medal with three service stars, the Philippine Independence Medal, and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.
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** This last one was not finalized when I took the viewer screenshot, but the lenses can be seen pretty well so I included it.
