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Japanese Airplanes and Betty Bomber Models |
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Aug 19th 1945 the end of World War 2 |
Contributors
to this Betty
Bomber Exhibit
Seth Villa,
Loyd Freeman, Larry Jennings
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Betty Bomber Home |
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Click Here
to see More about the Betty Bombers and the Japanese Surrender.
YellowAirplane's Online Museum
4-9-2003 My grandfather was assigned to the security detail, and managed to take one of very few photos allowed of the surrendered Betty bombers. I will try to get it scanned and mailed to you. The back image says "Japanese Surrender Plane 1945". As far as what happened to the aircraft, it was most likely scrapped and used for metals. After WWII, MILLIONS of planes were scrapped, ranging from P-51 Mustangs to B-17 Flying Fortresses. Kinda sad really, but a lot of the captured things were regarded as second class property. For example, the KMS Prinz Eugen (I think it became USS IX 300), and the HIJMS Nagato were both used as floating targets in Bikini Atoll. I don't think they would have kept the Betty bombers around simply for the historic value. As for the story, it was most likely confused and facts were mixed. There were several strikes against American bomber formations (over flying after the surrender was issued from Hirohito), one of which was launched from Oppama Airfield. After that, all aircraft were ordered grounded and the craft were placed under security. Read "Samurai!" or "Winged Samurai" depending on the volume of publishing...by Saburo Sakai. Sakai was a close friend to a veteran that I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting with. He was very active in the rebuilding of the union between the US and Japan. But that's getting off the topic. Raids from Oppama and other airbases against B-29 bombers immediately after the surrender DID happen, but by the time that the US arrived for the surrender signing, many forces were closely monitored. Jonathan Butler |
Here's the New Ernie Pyle Exhibit. Ernie Pyle was probably the most famous War Correspondent of
World War 2. He died on the island of Ie Shima
located in the Western
Pacific near Okinawa. This exhibit has exclusive photos and stories about
Ernie Pyle including the story about Exhibit Added 14 June 2007 |
Click Here for a list of WW2 Fighter Groups
Click Here to go to the YellowAirplane Online Museum
Look at these exhibits and tell me what these men really fought for.
the 34th fighter Squadron
USS Kitty Hawk
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