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Multimedia 1st Air Commando Group

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March 2nd, 2023
Last Updated
March 30th, 2023
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Photographs
North American P-51A Mustangs fighters of the 1st Air Commando Group at rest at an airfield in Burma, 1944.
North American P-51A Mustangs of the 1st Air Commando Group on an Airfield in Burma in 1944.
Colonel Robert “R.T.” Smith, standing in front of his North American P51A Mustang fighter of the 1st Air Commando Group. Barbie was the name of “R.T.’s” wife, a former Ford model, whom the tall and handsome Flying Tiger, Fighter “Ace” had married when he returned to the U.S. following his service with the American Volunteer Group.
Colonel Robert “R.T.” Smith, standing in front of his North American P51A Mustang fighter of the 1st Air Commando Group. Barbie was the name of “R.T.’s” wife, a former Ford model, whom the tall and handsome Flying Tiger, Fighter “Ace” had married when he returned to the U.S. following his service with the American Volunteer Group.
Colonel Robert “R.T.” Smith, flying his North American P51A Mustang fighter of the 1st Air Commando Group.
A formation of P-51A-5 Mustangs over Burma, including Ship #43-6132.
A formation of P-51A-5 Mustangs over Burma, including Ship #43-6132.
The Image shows the leadership of the 1st Air Commando Group in front of one of the Group’s North American B-25H Mitchell bombers on an airfield in eastern India. The name “Barbie III” painted across the nose of the “Mitchell” identifies it as the personal aircraft of “R.T.”
Sitting in the front row from left to right are; Walter Radovich, Arvid Olson, Johnny Alison, Phillip Cochran and “R.T.” Smith. Olsen and Smith were both original members of the American Volunteer Group, where Olson would earn fame as the commander the AVG’s 3rd Pursuit Squadron and Smith would be credited with 8.9 aerial victories.
The photo captures a group of Air Commando glider pilots with one of the 225 Waco CG-4 assault gliders that were assigned to the 1st Air Commando Group to carry “Chindit” formations deep behind Japanese lines.
The pilot kneeling at the far right of the photo with the “Tommy” gun resting against his left arm, is the famous child motion picture star Jackie Coogan, who in the 1960’s would gain additional fame as “Uncle Fester” in the very popular television series “The Adams Family.”
General Orde Wingate and Colonel Philip Cochran
Ground personnel of the 1st Air Commando Group working on Republic P47 Thunderbolts in India in February 1945.
Ground Personnel of the 1st Air Commando Group working on a  North American P-51A Mustang.
Republic P47 Thunderbolts of the 1st Air Commando Group taking off from an Airfield.
Three North American B25 Mitchell Bombers taking off from an airfield sn 43-429
North American B-25 Mitchell bombers of 1st Air Commando Group during a mission mid-1944.
North American B-25 Mitchell of the 1st Air Commando Group over Burma.
North American B-25H Mitchell sn 43-4380 “Barbie III” and 43-4271 “Dolly” of the 1st Air Commando Group.
North American B-25H Mitchell sn 43-4278 of the 1st Air Commando Group.
North American B-25H Mitchell sn 43-4278 of the 1st Air Commando Group releasing its bombs.
North American B-25H Mitchell of the 1st Air Commando Group after a bomb run.
Crashed North American B-25 Mitchell sn 43-4325 in Burma.
 North American P-51A Mustangs from the 1st Air Commando Group on an airfield near Karachi in India.
North American P-51 Mustang #43-6133 (Tail Code 6) being flown by Lieutenant Colonel Olson on February 15th, 1944.
North American P-51 Mustang #43-6133 (Tail Code 6) being flown by Lieutenant Colonel Olson on February 15th, 1944.
North American P-51 Mustang #43-6189 (Tail Code 1) Colonel Cochran’s Mustang taking off from Tamu on February 15th, 1944.
North American P-51 Mustang #43-6189 (Tail Code 1) Colonel Cochran’s Mustang taking off from Tamu on February 15th, 1944.
North American P-51A Mustang #43-6189 Tail Code 1, Colonel Cochran’s plane being flown by Lieutenant Colonel Grant Mahony over Burma in 1944.
North American P-51A Mustang #13, Mrs Virginia, with pilot Major Robert Petit of the 1st Air Commando Group.
 North American P51 Mustangs and North American B25 Mitchell over an airfield in Burma.
Picture By Colonel Allison of a group of fighters taking off.
1st Air Commando Group P-51A Mustang landing at Tamu airstrip on February 15th, 1944.
1st Air Commando Group P-51A Mustang landing at Tamu airstrip on February 15th, 1944.
Douglas C47 Skytrains of the 1st Air Commando Group ready to board troops.
Wounded Chindits evacuated aboard C-46 of 1st Air Commando Group in Burma.
Pilots of the small aircraft in front of two Stinson L-5 Sentinel and a  Noorduyn C64 Norseman.
Armed Engineers of the  900th Airborne Engineer Aviation Company leave a camouflaged revetment in a jeep at Tamu, Burma.
An engineer of the 900th Airborne Engineer Aviation Company clearing the strip with a Clarkair CA-1 bulldozer.
An engineer of the 900th Airborne Engineer Aviation Company clearing the strip with a Clarkair CA-1 bulldozer.
Airfields
Various light aircraft destined for the 1st Air Commando Group being assembled in a hanger at Karachi, India in 1944.
A squad of Gurkha paratroops walking across the Marston Mat covered all-weather airfield on Akyab Island off Burma to board C47’s in preparation for the invasion of Rangoon. C47’s with the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1st Air Commando Group visible to the left.
C47 “Jerry” and other Skytrains of the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron (Commando), 1st Air Commando Group stand ready in Burma. Note the crew members trying to stay cool in the shade of her fuselage.
Four C-47 Skytrains with the 319th Troop Carrier Squadron, 1st Air Commando Group lined up at the Thabutkon Airfield in Burma, the first transport planes to land ferrying an anti-aircraft battery during an operation.
Chinese troops raising their hats next to a 1st Air Commando Group C47 Skytrain.
Chinese troops boarding C47 B-1-DL Skytrain #316171 of the 1st Air Commando Group at Myitkyina, Burma.
“Last January, troops of the Sixth Army were flown by Air Commando C-47’s from Myitkyinā, Burma, to forward bases in China. These troops were photographed at Myitkyinā.”
Two of the Fighter Section’s replacement P51B-5 Mustangs. The 1st Air Commando Group received five P51B’s in mid April 1944 to replace combat losses.
Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman Ship #43-5204 was delivered to the USAAF on September 2nd, 1943 and flown to the Atlanta modification center on September 22nd, 1943 then flown to Alhambra, California on October 8th for shipment to Karachi, India. Assigned to the Transport Section of the 1st Air Commando Group, she appears to have been involved in an accident on March 21nd, 1945 and consigned to salvage on May 5th, 1945.
People
Commanders of the 1st Air Commando Group from left: Colonel Philip Cochran (Commanding Officer), Lieutenant Colonel John Alison (Deputy Commanding Officer), and Lieutenant Colonel Arvid Olson, AVG veteran (Operations Officer) stand in front of Colonel Cochran’s P-51A Mustang #43-6189, tail code #1.
Colonel Cochran on the wing of North American P-51A Mustang #43-6189, Tail Code 1.
Colonel Cochran on the wing of North American P-51A Mustang #43-6189, Tail Code 1.
From left to right, Lieutenant Casey, Lieutenant Colonel Olson, Colonel Cochran and unknown British officer at an airfield in Tamu, Burma on February 15th, 1944
Major Arvid Olson.
Lieutenant V. “Joe” Jovanovich in his P-47 the day they replaced the P51's.
Lieutenant V. “Joe” Jovanovich in his P-47 the day they replaced the P51’s.