70th Bomb Squadron officers

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Stef and Swede at B-26 B #41-17587 at Nandi, Fiji. Note the bombing missions, the "homesick angel" and credit for the destroyer sinking.

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

U.S. Navy torpedo maintenance unit from the U.S. Lexington, Aircraft Carrier. The unit was assigned to the 70th Squadron in Fiji. 1942

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

John Sharp sitting on one of the 70th's torpedoes on Fiji. July 1942

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Swede Larson and the Operations Office crew at Nandi. Left to Right: Capt Larson, Sgt. Corty, Cpl. Prensky plus two unidentified

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Fiji -- October 1942 Standing left to right: John Ellis, Frank Brinskelle, Conrad Ray and Max Miller Kneeling -- Sinook and two unidentified

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Fiji 1942 -- B-26B #41-17550 KreJan
Back row, left to right: Bill Griffith, Mark Treat, Dan Sullivan, Jack Gillis Kneeling, left to right: Tom Hendrix, George Snodgrass and J. Bracey

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Fiji 1942 -- B-26B #41-17547
Back row, left to right: Gil Smith, Lt. R.W. Ryder, Elmer Deblitz, Lou Saul Front row, left to right:Herbert McKelvy, Callie Hall, Louis Green

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

A 70th Squadron picnic on Fiji, celebrating the arrival of a beer shipment.
Our picnic was "visited" by the Base Commander and the newly-arrived 42nd Bomb Group Staff. Left to right: Swede Larson (70th), Major Whitneyball (42nd Group), Col. Harry Wilson (42nd Group), Lt. Col. Adkison (42nd Group), Maj. Stef (70th), and Col. Usher (Base Commander).

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Crew of the Dixie Belle 1942 -  This crew was lost in a ditching at sea during a heavy tropical rainstorm while flying from Guadalcanal to Espiritu Santo in the New Hebrides on 15 Nov. 1942.

Back row, left to right: Capt. Walter Callaham, 1st Lt. William R. McNeese, 2nd Lt. S.R. Hufstedler, Jr., 2nd Lt. Leonard M. Feldman.
Front row, left to right: S/Sgt. Frank L. House, Pfc. Richard Gray, and Pfc. John E. Lawler.

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Aircraft Dispersal Area, Fiji, 24 April 1943
The end of the main runway at Nandi is shown in the upper right corner. The normal landing approach was over Nandi Bay on the right edge of the picture.

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Capt. Harold V. "Swede" Larson, Squadron Operations Officer Nandi, Fiji, 1942

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Group of enlisted men and B-25 aircraft, Banika, Russell Islands

Front row, left to right: Baginski, Yanushefski, Pupko, Robinholt, Bockorick, Heffner, Stott and Schwartz Kneeling, left to right: Owen, Cooner, Gilbert, Scherr, Nace and Cope Sitting, left to right: Troy, Rebok, Rydzewski, Kurovsky, Andrukitis, Bogachinsky, Adomaitis, Eagan and Shaud Standing, left to right: Orach, Shirk, Prensky, Poorman, Keefer, Davis, Edwards, Miller, McGlaughlin, McGlinchey, Downey and Herring

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson

Capt. James Thompson is on the left followed by the  copilot, the navigator/radioman, and the bombardier and two gunners.  He was assigned  to the aircraft after the nose art was painted and she had some 20 or so missions. The rest of the "bombs" painted were his . I believe he had just about 76 missions then was rotated back to Hawaii.  notice the "ship" he was credited with and the "coconut tree" with the missing top. He flew thru a tree top while dodging tracers and luckily regained control of her and landed safely where repairs were made.

Photo courtesy of Jim Thompson Jr.

Donald Smith and crew... with 'The Coral Queen' 70th BS

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Page from Don Smith's photo album, showing his 70th BS B-25 leaving the target with one engine out

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Page from Don Smith's photo album, showing his 70th BS B-25 leaving the target with one engine out

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Page from Don Smith's photo album, showing another 70th BS B-25 leaving Zamboanga before it is ultimately shot down

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Page from Don Smith's photo album, showing his 70th BS B-25 leaving the target area, a  Dutch New Guinea airstrip

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Great scan showing a map of New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville

Photo courtesy of Joseph Coll

Al Dierks on B-25 prop (70th BS)

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Dierks

Al Dierks (70th BS)

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Dierks

Beachfront quarters (70th BS)

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Dierks

Al Dierks with a captured Japanese vehicle (70th BS)

Photo courtesy of Kenneth Dierks

B25 of the 70th BS

Photo courtesy of George Jones, 42nd BG

58th Anniversary, Reno, Nevada, May 1999

Photo courtesy of Hal (Swede) Larson