The Hobo Queens,
by
Stan Stokes
The B-32 Dominator was produced by
Consolidated Aircraft in parallel with Boeing’s development of the B-29
Super fortress. While both of these long-range heavy strategic bomber
development programs encountered some difficulties, the B-29 was
completed sooner, and was ordered in far larger quantities than the
B-32. About one hundred Dominators were ultimately built and the
aircraft saw some service very late in WW II. Powered by the same
engines as the B-29, the B-32 had a distinctive very tall stabilizer.
Four B-32s from the 386th BS of the 312th BG based at Yontan, Okinawa
were given a three-day photoreconnaissance mission near the end of the
War. On the third day of the mission, August 18, 1945, two aircraft were
forced to turn back and only two aircraft, the Hobo Queen and the Hobo
Queen II made it to Japan. The mission involved photographing an area
north and east of Tokyo. The aircraft were unescorted, as the War was
over for all practical purposes over. As the two aircraft prepared to
head home they were jumped by a large group of Japanese fighters
including Imperial Navy A6M2 Zeros and Army Ki44 Tojos. The first
attacks occurred at 1:30 PM while the aircraft were at 20,000 feet. The
enemy planes made ten passes on the Hobo Queen II with little or no
damage. About twenty-five passes were made at the Hobo Queen, which was
under the command of Lt. John R. Anderson. Seven passes were made at the
tail of the B-32 and one of the attackers blew-up. One fighter pass was
made at the ball turret from below with no success, and another six were
made at the forward upper turret. About six more were made at the nose
turret position, and several more at the upper rear turret. Another
enemy fighter blew up, and a third was scene going down smoking. The
pilots went to full mix and full throttle and power-dived the B-32 from
20,000 to 10,000 feet. The Hobo Queen absorbed a lot of damage during
these attacks. The radioman got the Hobo Queen II to regroup with the
badly damaged Hobo Queen to provide some cover. Three men were wounded
including Sgt. Anthony J. Marchione, SSgt. Joseph M. Lacharite, and Sgt.
John T. Houston. Marchione and Lacharite were at the camera hatch at the
rear of the aircraft when that section of the plane was riddled. Both
men were hit. Despite his own wounds, SSgt. Lacharite began
administering first aid to Marchione, but a second fighter pass wounded
Marchione again. Despite the valiant efforts of his crewmates to keep
him alive, Marchione passed away at 2:00PM. Sgt. Marchione may have been
the last USAAF combat casualty of the War. SSgt. Chevalier administered
first aid to SSgt. Lacharite during the long ride home. Despite being
unable to bank his aircraft due a feathered prop, Lt. Anderson got the
Hobo Queen down successfully.
Overall Print Size: 16" x 11 1/2"
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Collector Sized Lithograph:
$40
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225 Signature Series
Lithograph: $100
Co-signed by
SSGT. CHEVALIER - Crewman of the Hobo Queen.
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