Two B-29 Bomber Crewman Meet in Idaho Falls

Marshall Dullum's crew in Korea. Marshall is front row, second from left.

Dean's crew, India. 1944-45.

Marshall and Dean and a model of the B-29. Marshall commented that if he and Dean could find two more old B-29 crewmen, they could form a new crew.

On August 13, 2010, two bomber boys who flew in the B-29 Superfortress met each other for the first time in Idaho Falls. I have known Marshall Dullum for three or four years, but only recently found out about Dean . Marshall trained in bombers in WWII, but did not fly combat. He did, however, fly in the Berlin Airlift and in the United Nations peacekeeping action in the Middle East. He flew combat missions in a B-29 during the Korean War, near the end of the period when the 29 was used as a combat bomber. Dean flew in B-29s during WWII. He first trained crews in 1942 and 1943 in B-17s and B-24s, and was one of the first to train in the new B-29, which he says is the best of the three by far. Dean flew with the 20th Air Force in Asia. A flight engineer who had mechanical aptitude, he was responsible for keeping the mechanical components of the 29 working in flight. His crew "flew the Hump" over the Himalayas 25 times. The crew took off from a secret base in India, flew over the Himalayas--or, if the weather was good---through the Himalayas, threading its way between the jagged peaks. They landed at another secret base in China, and then took off to bomb Japanese-occupied areas in East Asia. Dean remembers that on a clear day you could navigate your way across the Himalayas by following the carcasses of crashed aircraft on the mountains below.

Visit From a Hero on Veteran's Day

Marshall tells of his experiences. The gentleman at center is my student teacher, Jim Jones, who is a veteran of the First Persian Gulf War.

Marshall talks about his years as an Air Force airman from WWII through Korea.

Today is Veteran's Day in the United States, and I invited my friend Marshall Dullum to come in and speak to our high school about his experiences as an airman in World War Two, the Berlin Airlift, and Korea. Marshall was a B-29 radio operator during the Korean War, flying 26 missions over enemy territory and having numerous adventures in his years in the Air Force from WWII through Korea. He gave a fascinating talk to about 90 students and staff at Emerson High School.

Marshall Dullum, bottom row, second from left, when he was a radio operator on the giant B-29 Superfortress directly behind the crew. This plane flew out of Japan over Korea.

It was an honor to have Marshall come to our school, and to have him share his experiences with us.

Thanks, Marshall. We'll never forget what you and so many did so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted.

For more on Marshall Dullum, please see my story about him at this link:

http://untoldvalor.blogspot.com/search?q=dullum

B-17 Model 'Chowhound' by Marshall Dullum

B-17 model builder and B-29 radioman extraordinaire Marshall Dullum poses with his crew in the photo above, taken during Marshall's service in the Korean War. Marshall is in the bottom row, second from left. Marshall built the B-17 model featured in this post, which he gave to me today.

Marshall's B-17G model of 'Chowhound', with US dollar bill for size comparison.

I visited my Idaho Falls friend Marshall Dullum this afternoon to wish him Happy Birthday and deliver his present (a book about the B-29 units in Korea during the Korean War), and he had an amazing surprise for me---a huge B-17G model that he built many years ago. I was overwhelmed at his generosity. It's a beauty, as you can see from the pictures. This is no small-kit model, but a huge tribute to the B-17. Marshall did a wonderful job of painting all the interiors and exteriors---even the Norden bombsight is in there in regulation black. Wow!

This particular B-17, #42-31367 flew out of Bassingourn, England assigned to the 322nd Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group. The Walt Disney character "Pluto" was painting on her nose. Chow Hound flew over 30 missions, but luck ran out for her second crew on August 8th, 1944 when she was shot down--4 of her crew were killed.

The model is so realistic you can look into the Plexiglass windows and see the Norden bombsight and the pilot's seats. When Marshall moved from California, some of the pieces were broken. He painstakingly found matching parts and fixed this model.

Marshall was a B-29 radioman in Korea, and is the only local friend I know who shares my passion for WWII aircraft. I met Marshall when I did an article about him for a local magazine's July 4 issue. We've been friends ever since.

Enjoy the photos of this model!