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UPLOADED: B-25C-1 "Chatter Box" 90th BS

P

Pen32Win

Charter Member
"CHATTER BOX" 90th Bomb Sqn. 3rd Attack Group Jan '43 to April 16 '43. 17-Mile Durand Airfield, Port Moresby, PNG
Textures for Tango Romeo's B-25C-1 (Dragon)
History:
Ferried to Charter Towers in January '43 this aircraft was originally to be assigned to the 13th BS. As fate had it 41-13088 was selected to become one of Pappy Gunn's original B-25C-1 Commerce Destroyers. Once converted it was assigned to the 90th BS, the first Squadron to receive them. 41-13088 was assigned to one of the most colorful, some say crazy pilots in a group of colorful pilots, Capt. Bob Chatt. Thus she became "Chatter Box". Chatt and his "Box" led 90th BS's third section during the main attack on Convoy 81 in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea. Chatt selected a 1500 Ton Destroyer as his target which turned out to be Arashio, a damaged survivor of the Battle of Midway (escorted Mogami and Mikuma). Chatt brought her in so low that the B-25D's (Level Bombers) of the 71st BS above them reported Arashio's AA fire was passing over Chatt. Chatter Box salvoed all 4 of its 500lb bombs at Arashio scoring 3 direct hits and a near miss. Chatter Box destroyed the Bow and completely removed the bridge, all that was left was the front window frame. Their last hit penetrated the No.#2 Turret and exploded in the aft machine room. Arashio was at this point out of control and steaming at flank speed, rudder jammed. Arashio rammed the already damaged SSV Nojima before being stopped and abandon. Arashio's burned out hulk was sunk later that day.
A wartime photo I have of Chatter Box and her Crew states that she also sank a large Japanese Submarine in Lae Harbor. Date unknown.
As with many of the Veterans of the BoBS Chatter Box would not see Wars End. On 16 April 43 while on a Check Out Flight to test an Engine Repair. The Pilot feathered the engine to be tested at low altitude and struck a tree. They force landed in the Veimauri Swamp and then walked to 30 Mile Rogers Drome. I have tried to find more information on Bob Chatt after the BoBS but have not located any.
 
:woot:... he's a one-man MItchell paintshop!

Thank you for all your hard work, on so many different things ...:ernae:
 
I want the...

...contract on her dental work! Could keep me in Knob Creek for life. :jump:
 
Pen32Win said:
Chatt selected a 1500 Ton Destroyer as his target which turned out to be Arashio, a damaged survivor of the Battle of Midway (escorted Mogami and Mikuma). Chatt brought her in so low that the B-25D's (Level Bombers) of the 71st BS above them reported Arashio's AA fire was passing over Chatt. Chatter Box salvoed all 4 of its 500lb bombs at Arashio scoring 3 direct hits and a near miss. Chatter Box destroyed the Bow and completely removed the bridge, all that was left was the front window frame. Their last hit penetrated the No.#2 Turret and exploded in the aft machine room. Arashio was at this point out of control and steaming at flank speed, rudder jammed. Arashio rammed the already damaged SSV Nojima before being stopped and abandon. Arashio's burned out hulk was sunk later that day.
Click to expand...
These guys really had some brass huevos. Great looking skin Pen. :applause:
 
Thanks Gents;


TR, she is long in the tooth isn't she. She may be the first B-25 to sport teeth.
I have yet find a photo that predates the one I have showing a 25 painted in this fashion.

DV;
From everything I’ve ever read about the 90th they were a bunch of hard chargin’, hard partying, practical jokers, that rode the razors edge. Their Radio Discipline was nonexistent, one guy said they sounded like a bunch of Coon-Hounds on the hunt. They read like “The Black Sheep” in B-25’s. Almost all of the Co-Pilots in the 90th were Aussies. Chatt’s Co-pilot was an Aussie, Maurice Carse.

I often wonder if this is why they were the first unit to get Pappy’s B-25 Commerce Destroyers. They were the only ones crazy and aggressive enough to be the first out of the chute.

During the BoBS they played havoc with Convoy 81, especially during the AM of the 3rd. Major Ed Larner (their leader in Spook II) blew the stern off Shirayuki, then hit Shinai Maru and strafed and dropped a near miss on Asagumo all in a single “S” turn pass. Chuck Howe hit Teiyo Maru, then hit Aiyo Maru and strafed either Nojima or Taimei Maru on the way out. Jock Henebry Hit Oigawa Maru then attacked Shinai Maru. Gordon McCoun put a pair into Teiyo Maru and then almost rolled Aiyo Maro. Bill Smallwood, even after getting hit hard by AA put another pair into Teiyo Maru…. The whole group reads like this. Every ship sunk during the BoBS was hit by the 90th with the exception of 2. Kyokusei Maru was sunk north of NB before they ever got a shot at her. The little Sea Truck AK Kembu Maru was hit once by the 89th’s A-20 and disappeared in a flash and a bang.

Yep! Big Stones….
 
Was this the...

...convoy that lost an entire Japanese infantry division as a result of the air attacks? :kilroy:

You're on a roll.....keep on keepin' on. :ernae:
 
Tango_Romeo said:
...convoy that lost an entire Japanese infantry division as a result of the air attacks? :kilroy:

You're on a roll.....keep on keepin' on. :ernae:
Click to expand...

Convoy 81 started out with 8 DD's of three different classes, 8 Cargo Ships ranging from about 850 Tons to about 7500 Tons. On Board was the 51st Infantry division and all of their equipment. When the 5th AF and the Aussies got done with them 4 of the DD's managed to hightail it out. Out of 6,900 troops who were badly needed in New Guinea, only about 800 made it to Lae. For days after the main battle the 5th and Aussies actively hunted down any barges, boats even rafts survivors were afloat on. They expended every effort to prevent these troops from ever landing on the shores of PNG where they would reinforce existing units.
 
The destroyer escorts were all veterans of the Tokyo Express in the earlier Solomon Islands campaign, but they were no match for the 5th USAAF and the RAAF units.

Smoke pyres from the last ships to be sunk were reportedly seen on the horizon from Lae. Many survivors from the marus were picked up by the DD escort only to go into the water again when half of the DD escort was sunk. The aircrews were ordered to strafe the survivors in the water, which reportedly caused more than a few air crews to loose their morning breakfasts.
 
Thanks Pen, I've never seen a B-25 with such pearly whites before. Nice paint, and documentation.
:ernae:
 
You're Welcome;

Slowly working on more. Busy time at work right now.
Also!!! Gotta tip the hat to SC for his templates that make it possible for artistically challenged "Decal Stickers" like me to create these skins.
 
My Father flew in the B-25 that bombed the japanese submarine in Lae Harbour in March 1943. I would be interested in any information about that and the Bismarck Sea Battle and the B-25s. His name was Alister (Ian) McDonald. He was awarded the DFC for his part in the Battle.
Have a nice day. We are "battening down the hatches" here because we have a cyclone off the coast.
 
Michaela,

Was he RAAF or USAAF ?

The reason I ask is that the RAAF got their B-25's sometime in 1944....

If he was RAAF, I found a reference to a Flying Officer Alister Leo McDonald, DFC (US) on the AWM website.

And this could be the sub at Lae Harbour (from a couple of web sites)

Friday, 19 March, 1943

In New Guinea, A-20's pound forces in the Mubo area while B-25's bomb a submarine and barges in Lae harbor.

HIJMS Submarine I-176:

19 March 1943:
Lae harbor. While unloading supplies, the I-176 is attacked and strafed by three Fifth Air Force North American B-25 "Mitchell" medium bombers. A bomb hits the I-176 on her aft deck cargo of rice drums. Cdr Tanabe is hit by a machine-gun bullet and wounded severely and two helmsmen are killed .**
The I-176 submerges but cannot maintain her buoyancy due to bomb and machine-gun damage, so her Executive Officer grounds her in shallow water to carry out emergency repairs. Landing craft from Lae arrive and finish unloading their supplies.

I-176 was finaly sunk in 1944.
 
B- 25 Info

Thank you for the info. My father was RAAF. He was originally meant to go to Europe but was "seconded" from there to fly with the Americans. I do believe that he served with the 90th as it is listed in his pay records. Could this be correct? Unfortunately I can't access his war service records until 2012 as they are locked until then. I would appreciate any suggestions of where I could look for more info and photos as he never spoke about his wartime experiences. The cyclone that is off the Queensland coast is still threatening! We are battening down the hatches just in case. Thanks again, Michaela.
 
I found it. Your father, flew with the 90th BS in B-25C-1 112946 during the afternoon attack on Convoy 81. This aircraft was nick named "Margaret" and was one of the very first B-25C-1 Commerce Destroyers built by Pappy Gunn.

Crew on the PM Attack:
Pilot- 2nd Lt. Ed Solomon USAAF
Co-Pilot - Flt. Sgt. J.H. McCellan RAAF
Gunner - Sgt. Redus W. Harrell USAAF
Radio Gunner - Sgt. A.L. McDonald RAAF

They hit the Destroyer Asashio and one of the crippled transports, no ID given as they were pretty much burned out hulks at this point in the battle. They also attacked several barges and then fought off two KI-43 Oscars during their retirement from the area.

During the AM attack this aircraft was flown by Lt. John Sbisa. I do have a picture of your father with Sbisa, Flt. Sgt. Bob Guthrie and Cpl. Ashton Carter who your father also flew with. It seems they mixed crews around quite a bit in the 90th from one day to the next. This photo is from a book by Lex McAuley. “Battle of the Bismarck Sea” on page 123. This book is out of print but you can find used copies of it on-line.

I hope this helps shed a little light on your father’s service and for it I offer my salute.
 
Well done Pen !!

He has a photo at the AWM. Go here and search for " OG0017 " .

The pic is public domain, so I took the liberty of enlarging it for you - just right click on it and save to your hard drive. He's bottom left.

Cheers,

Pete
 
Just a quick thank you for the info and your help. I'm thrilled.
I am on the trail now. My father always told us kids that we wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the Americans. He had a great respect and admiration for you and he has passed it on to his children. Thanks again.
Michaela.
 
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