340th Bomb Group    487th Bomb Squadron

 

The squadron maintained a force of about 26 planes that suffered attrition that required replacements.

 

Thirteen carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art earning them the name

Dog Face Squadron.

 

VIDEO TRANSCRIBED FROM NATIONAL ARCHIVES FILM

 

(63 mb – be patient and play full screen)

 

 

 

Photos unless noted otherwise are from Charles Cook’s Collection

 

Edited by his son Doug Cook.  Comments and corrections welcome.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

 

Last update June 17, 2010

 

 

 

Documents courtesy of Dominique Taddei  taken from

the old newletters "The Bridge Busters"(courtesy of William Laney) of the 487th BS

 

 

These B-25 Bombers were primarily B-25 J Models.

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-28074 - 7C

Lost or destroyed

Photos courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486th BS

 

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27556 - 7D

 

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27540 - 7E

WATCH COPIER

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Aug. 15, 1944 to bomb a gun position at Frejus, France prior to the D-Day invasion of S. France  and on Dec. 10, 1944 on a mission to bomb RR bridges in Brenner Pass at Calliano, Osseniga, and Roveretto, Italy  and on Dec. 27, 1944 to bomb a RR bridge at Borovinica, Yuguslavia.  (Photo- Credit K. Dempsey)

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art. http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/billmauldin.html

 

7E after 142 Missions- A Record??

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486th BS

 

 

7E  WATCH COPIER IN FLIGHT FORMATION- (before the dog face art?)

(PHOTO CREDIT  LT. CLAIR J. CLARK)

 

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486th BS

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27510 - 7F

WILLIE  (see 7F Saga)

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on Dec. 15. 1944 to bomb the RR bridge at Chivasso, Italy.

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27738 - 7G

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

 

 

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-27531 - 7R

UNCLE WILLIE

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on July 26, 1944 on a mission to bomb Poggio Renatico, Italy RR bridge.

 

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4056 - 7T

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-36102 - 7U UNCLE WILLIE

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

Chas. Cook flew this plane on July 20, 1944 on a mission to bomb Mantua, Italy RR bridge.

 

Photo courtesy of Herman Voss- custodian of John Sterrett-Tail Gunner 486th BS

 

 

 

340th BG 487th BS – SN ? - 7V

More Dogface Art  ‘Supper Unit  Ration K’

 

Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486th BS veteran John Sutay   

 

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4078 - 7W

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486th BS veteran John Sutay     SN from photo archive: 43-4078   ‘Watch Copier’ (not 7E above)

 

Photo Credit Mark McCandlish from late 486th BS veteran John Sutay   

 

340th BG 487th BS - SN 43-4065 - 7X GI JOE 

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

 

 

340th BG 487th BS – SN  ?

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

 

 

340th BG 487th BS – SN  ?

One of 13 that carried variations of Bill Mauldin “dog face” cartoon characters as nose art.

 

Photo courtesy of Dominique Taddei

Left to the right Major John E Rapp (487th BS CO),  Joe Barton painting on the ladder,  

General Robert D Knapp (in black 57th BW CO) and Colonel Willis F Chapman (340th BG CO).

 

57th Bomb Wing Top Brass inspect the 487th BS (video 10 mb)

 

 

 

BACK to INDEX