Pilots of Curtiss F-40's of the 26th Fighter Sqd., 51st Fighter Group discuss a mission.

China

Pilots

This photo is NOT in the public domain. It is copyrighted. Mr. Wynne was in the Army/Air Corp at the time but this photo and all the others of Smoky in WWII were taken during his off hours - therefore the photos are not US Government photos but personal photos taken by Mr. Wynne. Mr. Wynne does not object to the photo appearing herein, but he wants proper credit and the wrong info on it being in the public domain removed asap or the photo removed if he is not credited for this and any other Smoky photographs. Smoky was not a military dog although she became the "Yank Magazine Mascot of the South Pacific - first and foremost she was Mr. Wynne's pet... As described by Wynne, "Smoky Served in the South Pacific with the 5th Air Force, 26th Photo Recon Squadron and flew 12 air/sea rescue and photo reconnaissance missions." On those flights, Smoky spent long hours dangling in a soldier's pack near machine guns used to ward off enemy fighters. Smoky was credited with twelve combat missions and awarded eight battle stars. She survived 150 air raids on New Guinea and made it through a typhoon at Okinawa. Smoky even parachuted from 30 feet in the air, out of a tree, using a parachute made just for her. Wynne credited Smoky with saving his life by warning him of incoming shells on an LST, calling her an "angel from a foxhole." As the ship deck was booming and vibrating from anti-aircraft gunnery, Smoky guided Wynne to duck the fire that hit 8 men standing next to them.[
So this should cover that. theres a whole wiki page connected with this dog. Im a big fan of wartime mascots. i have a few, more and have heard rumors that a polish contingent had a bear, would love to see that if anyone has it.  heres the link to smoky the dog. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoky_(dog)

Smoky Parachuting.

B-17 bombers of the 8th Air Force bombing a Focke Wulf plant at Marienburg.  1943.