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PHOTOGRAPH ALBUM: PAGE 1
MS BRASTAGI: VMB-443's ground echelon was transported from San Diego, California to Emirau aboard the MS Brastagi. This ship was a Dutch merchantman that was converted to a troopship in 1942. Photograph: U.S. Navy Historical Archives
BON VOYAGE: Members of VMB-443 bid farewell to well-wishers as the MS Brastagi departs from San Diego. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Ray Peeler)
MORMON TEMPLE: While enroute to the Southwest Pacific, some members of VMB-443 were able to visit some of the sites on Oahu. One of those sites was the Mormon Temple with its lavishly manicured grounds. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Darla Harry)
PBJ OUTBOUND: This VMB-443 aircraft has just departed from Emirau and is headed on its assigned mission. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Doug Yirka)
EMIRAU AIRSTRIP: An aerial view of VMB-443's airstrip at the northern end of Emirau. The runways can be seen through the haze on the upper right of the photograph. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
ENROUTE TO TARGET: Taken from the tail-gunner's station, an accompanying VMB-443 PBJ is seen in formation on its way to a Japanese target. The large dark-colored area on the right of the photograph is the rudder of the PBJ in which the cameraman was located. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Darla Harry)
BOMB RUN: A pair of VMB-443 PBJs release their bomb loads over an unidentified Japanese target. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
BOMBS AWAY: On his 24th mission, Sergeant Duane M. Yirka took this photograph of an accompanying PBJ-1J releasing its bomb load from 10,000 feet over Rabaul. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Doug Yirka)
RETURN TRIP: A VMB-443 aircraft returns to its base on Emirau following a mission. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Darla Harry)
ISLANDERS ASSIST WAR EFFORT: Natives of the Bismarck Archipelago took up arms to assist the allied war effort in ridding their homeland from the Japanese invaders. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Darla Harry)
LST-578: In August of 1945, VMB-443 departed Emirau for the Philippine Islands aboard LST-578. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
TENT CITY: Billeting for squadron consisted of a seemingly endless line of tents. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank Gricus)
SQUADRON OFFICE: VMB-443's compound at Malabang, Philippines. The tent on the left served as the squadron office. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
CHOW HALL: This tent-cover chow hall served as VMB-443's dining facility at Malabang. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
FILIPINO GUERRILLAS: These three Filipinos fought the Japanese during their occupation of the Philippine Islands. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
MALABANG CHURCH: This church was located just outside the airstrip perimeter at Zamboanga, Philippines. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
JAPANESE FIGHTER: A threat no more, this Japanese fighter plane lies a broken wreck. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus)
SAD END: Following the end of the war, VMB-443's PBJs were broken up and scrapped at Malabang—a sad end indeed for these great aircraft. Photograph: U.S. Marine Corps (Courtesy of Frank V. Gricus) |
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