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John Pletcher Photo Gallery

John Pletcher

Gallery of Pletcher photos

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Photograph of Japanese pilots before the raid on Dutch Harbor, 6 June 1942

When the Japanese invaded the islands of Attu and Kiska in June, 1942, it was the first time that an enemy occupied American soil since the War of 1812.

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Aleutian World War II

National Historic Area Alaska

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John Pletcher Photo Gallery

John Pletcher

The flight crews of the 73rd Bombardment Squadron (M) at McChord Field before the flight of the eight Douglas B-18A airplanes from McChord to Elmendorf. One crew, whose members are not in the picture, had flown to Anchorage a month before the other eight

There is no identity shown on the large single picture but it may be 01372.

Pletcher’s airplane after a mission to Kiska. The people out there were playing for keeps.

John Pletcher and his crew, October 28, 1942 at Adak, Alaska on the ramp parking area.

B-26 tail number 01372 and 01370 as shown on the rudders of the airplane.

B-26 tail number 01372 as shown on the rudders of the airplane.

B-26 #1558 sitting on the ramp at Adak on a rainy day. The engines are covered to help protect them from the weather. The nose shows the two twenty millimeter cannon that had been installed in the nose. This was a modification that was added in the field.

Two young pilots showing what “appropriately dressed” crew members were wearing.

Pletcher’s B-26 after a mission to Kiska. The man on the right is the Glenn L. Martin Company factory representative for the B-26. His nickname was “Pinky”.

John Pletcher – contemplating missions past and future missions. Maybe wondering when the sun will shine, who knows? He is obviously deep in thought.

The Quonset building, at Adak, show the “deluxe” living quarters we had. The next lower level was “air-conditioned” tents. The big rock in the picture was known as ship rock because and was out in the bay.

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