USAAF Nose Art Research Project - Reina del Pacifico

Reina del Pacifico
B-25J-11-NC 43-36020

345th Bomb Group, 501st Bomb Squadron

Nose art painted by
Sgt George M BLACKWELL
345th Bomb Group, 501st Bomb Squadron

Painted by Sgt George Blackwell with help from Cpl Joe Merenda this Mitchell was assigned to crew chief TSgt Ramon Salazar. Reported lost on 28th April 1945 with the crew of 2Lt Milton Esty after being hit by flak which turned it into a mass of flame before it exploded on impact with the ground.

Known Mission List

Date	Pilot	Target	Notes
26 Dec 1944	E L Bina	Matina AD
1 Jan 1945	J W Stone	Silay AD
7 Jan 1945	C H Lamar	Clark Field
8 Jan 1945	McEwen	Talisay AD, Negros
9 Jan 1945	E L Bina	Luzon rolling stock
10 Jan 1945	G H Musket	Luzon rolling stock	Smashed right nacelle hitting cane brake while strafing
14 Jan 1945	D W Hardeman	Aparri AD
21 Jan 1945	M R Bell	Baguio
22 Jan 1945	V L Gross	Bataan	R/E (NS) - escort
23 Jan 1945	Cook	Floridablanca
29 Jan 1945	J W Stone	Cabcaben AD
5 Mar 1945	R E Blount	Indo-China shipping
14 Mar 1945	C J Kuta	Cape Varella shipping
29 Mar 1945	Goodban	Indo China coast convoy
30 Mar 1945	McClanathan	Yulin Bay convoy
6 Apr 1945	R E Blount	China coast shipping
8 Apr 1945	J N Harrah	Chomosui AD
14 Apr 1945	M R Esty	Canton shipping
15 Apr 1945	C J Kuta	Tuguegarao AD
16 Apr 1945	H C Steele	Lamsepo AD, Formosa
18 Apr 1945	O E Hatcher	Karenko MYs, Formosa
21 Apr 1945	E J Wilkinson	Sican Grd support
22 Apr 1945	Maj M H Mortensen	Bolac Grd support
23 Apr 1945	M R Esty	Woody Island
27 Apr 1945	H C Steele	Garit Morte AF
28 Apr 1945	M R Esty / M E Miller	Saigon shipping	MISSING - hit by flak, caught fire, exploded and crashed NNW of Saigon