Caption | Ground Crewmen with Bombing Squadron 139 posing with their squadron mascot in front of the tail section of a PV-1 Ventura patrol bomber on Attu Island, Alaska, 4 Jun 1944. Note the Marsden mat surface. ww2dbase | |||||||
Photographer | Unknown | |||||||
Source | ww2dbaseUnited States Navy | |||||||
Identification Code | 80-G-237774 | |||||||
More on... |
| |||||||
Photos on Same Day | 4 Jun 1944 | |||||||
Photos at Same Place | Attu, Alaska | |||||||
Added By | David Stubblebine | |||||||
This photograph has been scaled down; full resolution photograph is available here (2,584 by 2,100 pixels). | ||||||||
Licensing | Public Domain. According to the United States copyright law (United States Code, Title 17, Chapter 1, Section 105), in part, "[c]opyright protection under this title is not available for any work of the United States Government". Please contact us regarding any inaccuracies with the above information. Thank you. |
|||||||
Colorized By WW2DB |
Colorized with Adobe Photoshop |
Did you enjoy this photograph or find this photograph helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this photograph with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Visitor Submitted Comments
All visitor submitted comments are opinions of those making the submissions and do not reflect views of WW2DB.
Change View
Desktop ViewSearch WW2DB
Modern Day Location
WW2-Era Place Name | Attu, Alaska |
Lat/Long | 52.8257, 173.1622 |
Random Photograph
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,146 biographies
- » 336 events
- » 43,422 timeline entries
- » 1,237 ships
- » 349 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 372 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 259 facilities
- » 468 book reviews
- » 28,395 photos
- » 432 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"All that silly talk about the advance of science and such leaves me cold. Give me peace and a retarded science."Thomas Dodd, late 1945
16 Jun 2019 09:26:00 PM
The mascot’s name was Big Mooch and was reputed to be the first dog to fly on a bombing mission over Japanese territory. This squadron was later redesignated as Patrol-Bombing Squadron 139 (VPB-139) and was the first to show that the PV-1 Ventura had the range to reach the Japanese held Kurile Islands from Attu. According to the mission markings seen in this photo, it appears this aircraft has made 6 such strikes up to this point. The circular emblem on the tail is the insignia for Fleet Air Wing Four, the “Empire Express.” Standing left-to-right are: Aviation Chief Machinist’s Mate T.J. Malek (wearing the VB-139 patch on his jacket), Aviation Chief Metalsmith 1st-class L.S. Hays, Aviation Chief Metalsmith R.J. Pluth, and Chief Yeoman A.J. Gannon.