Maynard Wege World War II Photograph Collection

Collection — Folder: 1

Identifier: 2007-06-05

Contents of the Collection

The Maynard Wege World War II Photograph Collection is a small collection comprised of a single photo album page with six black-and-white photographs created by Maynard Wege, who served as a United States Army Air Force B-29 mechanic during the World War II Pacific Theatre. Photographs feature an image of a Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, an aerial photograph of Hiroshima in late August 1945, a disabled Japanese Mitsibishi J2M3 Raiden fighter found on an airfield near Tokyo, a B-29 squadron awaiting takeoff, an aerial photograph of Northwest Field on Guam in summer of 1945, and B-29 aircraft of the 502nd Bombardment Group parked at Northwest Field during maintenance.

Dates

Creation: 1945

Language of Materials

All materials are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. For more information contact us.

Conditions Governing Use

The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.

Biographical Note: Maynard Wege

During World War II, Maynard Wege served as a B-29 mechanic in the United States Army Air Force. Based on the locations of his photographs and the contents of his collection, Wege was at several strategic base locations crucial to the United States bombardment of the Japanese home islands in 1945, including Iwo Jima, Guam and possibly others in the northern Mariana Islands. After V-J Day, Wege may have participated in the United States occupation of airfields on the Japanese homeland, as one item from his collection was salvaged from Atsugi Air Base outside of Tokyo. No further information is known. Biography derived from collection materials.

Historical Note: 315th Bombardment Wing

Two of Wege's photographs feature B-29 aircraft with a diamond H symbol on their tails indicating that they were part of the 502nd Bombardment Group, which was under command of the 315th Bombardment Wing. The 315th Wing was activated at Petersen Field, Colorado in June 1944. Wege's collection includes an aerial photograph of Northwest Field on Guam. Northwest Field underwent construction between 1944-1945, becoming what Wege described as "Two asphalt runways made from crushed coral." Northwest Field was the home base for the 315th Bombardment Wing beginning in May 1945. From there, the B-29 squadrons under its command launched regular bombing missions of oil refineries on the Japanese home islands. After Japan surrendered, the 315th Wing made supply runs into Japan and Manchuria as well as relocated to Ashiya Air Base in 1946 to become part of the Fifth Air Force Occupation forces. The 315th Bombardment Wing was re-designated the 315th Air Division, providing airlift and air cargo service during the Korean War and some operations in the Cold War. The 315th Air Division was inactivated in 1969. Historical note derived from collection materials and the following sources:

The 315th Bombardment Wing. “Northwest Field, Guam, circa 1945.” http://www.315bw.org/. Accessed January 9, 2020.
Wikipedia. “315th Air Division.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/315th_Air_Division. Accessed January 9, 2020.
Wikipedia. “502nd Bombardment Group.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/502d_Bombardment_Group. Accessed January 9, 2020.