tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post3662125217595572999..comments2024-03-23T15:48:15.416-05:00Comments on Bayou Teche Dispatches: My Oddball Collection of Cajun Warplane PhotosShane K. Bernardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454946054965548589noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-19222919458071622942022-07-24T12:56:22.242-05:002022-07-24T12:56:22.242-05:00Stumbled across this site showing my son pictures ...Stumbled across this site showing my son pictures of his great-grandfather. My grandfather was Gen. Wiltz Segura and I have fond memories of him telling war stories to us years ago! Thank you for the history lesson!Michelle Philippnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-36849875288734465512021-06-23T13:21:32.080-05:002021-06-23T13:21:32.080-05:00Hi, can I get a scanned copy of that image of the ...Hi, can I get a scanned copy of that image of the airplane and, if so, can I post it here? I think the only other info I have on the C-47 is the list of crewmembers in the photo. (Did you grandmother know someone in the crew?) Feel free to respond here or to email me through the email instructions on my website: www.cajunculture.comShane K. Bernardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00454946054965548589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-39199078880683338792021-06-23T12:38:43.455-05:002021-06-23T12:38:43.455-05:00I came across this site as I was searching for mor...I came across this site as I was searching for more information on the C-47 “Cajun” since I recently came across a picture of it in my grandmothers collection. The picture I have is different than the one you display. Have you learned more information about the plane? Erin Restelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14585425782275091278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-79823956865575324832013-02-21T10:35:29.644-06:002013-02-21T10:35:29.644-06:00I also received this e-mail several months ago fro...I also received this e-mail several months ago from Jim Butterworth, whose father also served on the Cajun Queen; I post his e-mail with permission:<br /><br />My dad was definitely on this one [the early version of the Cajun Queen, with the woman painted on the fuselage]. We have a photo of him (and the crew) in front of the plane at the same time as your photos (all show 7 bombing missions on the side of the plane). Unfortunately, my dad is not around to ask about the two planes or name origin. This B-29 was built in 1942 and was serial number 42-63557. It was later renamed the "Missouri Belle" and crashed on May 3, 1945. After repair it was transferred out of the 678th Bombardment Squadron, 444th Bombardment Group, 58th Bomb Wing into the 19W19G and was renamed "Sure Thing."<br /><br />In spring 1945 a brand new B-29 (serial # 44-69982) was delivered to the 678th, and it was [also] named "the Cajun Queen." This is the other picture you have. I have a photo of the plane and crew and one of the officers definitely looks like my dad. I'm doing research into whether he (and others from CJ #1) were on this plane. Interestingly, this plane became the first B-29 to land on Japan, in Aug 1945 just after the surrender, when it ran out of gas running POW relief. In 1953 it crashed off Newfoundland destroying it and killing the crew. . . .<br /><br />The commander/pilot of both planes named The Cajun Queen was Major Harold J. Shelden, Jr. His wife, Dorothy, was from Lafayette, LA, and together they later lived in Baton Rouge. Hence, she's The Cajun Queen! I imagine the reason the first plane was later named the Missouri Belle is because they met and married in Missouri. When the new B-29 arrived in 1945 (after he crash-landed the first one) he named it The Cajun Queen, too. Make sense?Shane K. Bernardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00454946054965548589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-31463312161869841282013-02-20T18:01:13.976-06:002013-02-20T18:01:13.976-06:00I received the below comment from Dave Honecker, w...I received the below comment from Dave Honecker, whose father flew on the two Cajun Queen B-29s. I post his message with permission:<br /><br />Dr. Bernard, <br /> <br />I saw some pictures of the Cajun Queen B-29 on your web site. My father, Lt. Warren Honecker, served on that plane as navigator. It was in the 444th Bomb Group, 678th Squadron. They flew missions against the Japanese out of Dudkundi, India and Tinian. I believe it was 23 [missions] altogether. The name Cajun Queen comes from the pilot's wife. Maj "Shag" (Harold) Shelden was from Wyoming, I believe, but his wife was from LA [Louisiana]. According to the little diary of Dad's I have, the two planes come down to this: The first plane with the classic art work of the woman was damaged badly on landing on Tinian. They flew to India by way of Brazil and west Africa -- using British bases. They flew to Tinian by way of China and apparently damaged a landing gear when landing in China on the rock (hand-built) runways the Chinese made. They were assigned a new plane and it was named the Cajun Queen, too, but the artwork was done by a group of CBs [also spelled "seabees"] on Tiniana who sort of adopted them after they had to crash land the first plane -- hence the different art work. Dad didn't keep in touch with any of the crew after the war. <br /> <br />A Louisiana story for you. They took a little detour enroute from training base in Nebraska to Florida before heading to South America. The pilot got Dad to plot a course for Lafayette, where some of his in-laws were. They buzzed the town at about 300 feet according to Dad. That's 300 feet in a B-29 -- by far the biggest thing in the sky in 1945. I am not sure if my Mom and Maj. Shelden's wife Dottie were there or not. I know my mother and she went there after leaving their husbands in Nebraska. <br /> <br />I just thought I could clarify some things -- there are pictures of the crew and plane on another web site or there were [see http://www.444thbg.org/678thsquadron.htm ]. I have been lucky enough to have lots of Dad's records. <br /> <br />Dave HoneckerShane K. Bernardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00454946054965548589noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1660857958535448139.post-53876880998273132472012-06-05T21:04:04.847-05:002012-06-05T21:04:04.847-05:00interesting.interesting.acl4346https://www.blogger.com/profile/06611482115948512261noreply@blogger.com