Iwo Jima VLR Mustangs

Part 1 - 15th FG

by Mark L. Rossmann

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The “Sun Setters”, were the VLR Mustang pilots of the 15th, 21st and 506th Fighter groups, VII Fighter Command.  Based on a volcanic island in the Pacific Ocean, flying 650 mile missions to Tokyo and back, if you made it you were a member of the “Tokyo Club”.  VII fighter command flew 51 Very Long Range missions to Japan from April 7 to August 14, 1945, initially flying B-29 escort missions, ground attack missions followed including 140 strikes against targets in the Bonin Islands.   Final accounting of the Sun Setters was 234.5 confirmed aerial kills and 219 ground kills, while losing 131 P-51’s and 99 pilots lost to all causes.

On March 6th the 47th FS arrived at Southfield Iwo Jima, followed on March 7th by the 45th and 78th FS.

45th FS P-51’s were assigned numbers 50 to 99, was commanded in the following order by Maj. Gilmore Snipes, Maj. Arthur Bridge, Capt. Harold Collins and Maj. Robert Moore.

Stinger VII was piloted by Maj. Moore, the leading VLR ace with 11 kills. These were the initial markings of this unit.

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47th FS P-51’s were assigned numbers 150 to 199, was commanded in the following order by Maj. John Piper, Maj. Theon Markham, Capt. Walter Powel, Capt. Ernest Hostetlerand and again Maj. Theon Markham.

“Black Rufe” named after one of Al Caps comic strip characters from “Li’l Abner”, was piloted by Lt. Sparks.  This was one of five 47th FS Mustangs lost in the storm of June 1, Lt. Sparks was not flying it that day. These were the initial markings of this unit.

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Jeanie VIII was piloted by Maj. Vande Hey, survivor of the Pearl Harbor attack. On the first VLR mission to Tokyo, April 7th, he knocked down a twin engined “Dinah”. These were the initial markings of this unit.

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These are among the last USAAF Mustang units to be activated for combat. If you would like to know more about the VII Fighter command, the Banzai attack and the storm of June 1, you will enjoy reading the following:

References: Osprey Aviation Elite Units – Very Long Range Mustang Units of the Pacific War – Author: Carl Molesworth.

Decals: AreoMaster 48-797.

Watch for Part 2, 506th FG later in 2008.

Mark

Photos and text © by Mark L. Rossmann