Meatballs and Dead Birds by James P Gallagher - A Memory by Mark Smith

This classic of aviation literature by James P Gallagher was first published in 1972 and re-published by Stackpole Books in 2004. It contains many gems of direct observation about the appearance of Japanese aircraft seen up close and personal by the author after the end of the war and came up in comments on the Vic Hobby paints blog. Aviation of Japan's Texas correspondent Mark Smith wrote a comment in response that was too interesting (and too long) to leave there so is blogged below instead. Mark agreed with reader Bellerophon in finding Gallagher's account convincing and wrote:-   

'I got to know (James Gallagher) late in his life, when he was living in Baltimore, and asked him again about it (the 'chocolate bar brown' Tony). The subject came up because I mentioned that a kit (or decal set, I forget) of Japanese origin had been issued with these markings, with instructions showing dark green upper surfaces, and around the same time one of my Japanese aviation books had a color illustration of the aircraft showing, again, a typical JAAF dark green.  He was emphatic in response: 'NO!  It was Hershey bar brown, and it stood out because it was so unusual.' For those who don't have 'Meatballs and Dead Birds', the chapter that features this photo is called 'An Unforgettable Japanese Warbird' and it has these lines: 'Having enjoyed the ususual opportunity of inspecting hundreds of Japanese military aircraft and/or their remains, I find there is one particular combat plane that stands foremost in my memory.' 

Hasegawa 1/72 box art 1987

'He greatly encouraged me in my work as a pastor in Pennsylvania and when I would call him occasionally, always seemed to be in good spirits.  I admired him, and his enthusiasm for so many subjects.  He was big on daily exercise and walking. Once when I asked how he was feeling, he said, 'Just fine, but I refereed a high school basketball game last night, and the muscles are sore.'  He was 74 at the time!  One morning I realized it had been many months since we talked, so called from my office, but someone else answered.  I had the right number, but I had waited too long.  He was gone at 82. He lived a very full life and according to him, his service with the 49th FG of Fifth Air Force was and always would be its highlight, and that service had pride of place in his obituary.  He 'lived on a lot of different islands' for those years. 

Hasegawa 1/72 box art 1993

'I had Shigeo Koike's 1/48 Hawegawa box art of the Shamrock Tony matted and framed and sent to him, around 1990, which showed the airplane climbing into bright sunlight, its essential color slippery but suggestive of Jim's notes, except with a yellow fuselage stripe instead of white.  He felt the painting was a confirmation of his observations.  In return he sent me a marvelous book of his original railroad photos, 'Trackside Maryland: From Railyard to Main Line', with a note saying he wanted to show me what he could do 'with a decent camera in my hand'.  It was a beautiful collection of the last days of steam trains, mostly of the Baltimore and Ohio - Jim had the artist's desire to capture history before it had vanished, the common theme of all his books. He said there was a lot of walking and waiting that didn't show in those photos. He did everything himself, and loved the magic of watching those negatives swim up in the tray, and occasionally reveal something just right. Admiring those crystal clear plates of trains in their working environment made me wish that the USAAF had utilized his talents to officially document the defeat of Japanese airpower. Who knows what he might have captured with merely an assigned jeep, plenty of film, and a quality camera. 

'His final book, published by Johns Hopkins Press, was 'With the Fifth Air Force: Photos From the Pacific Theater' and is also worth finding.  It contains by far his best writing. I know this is too long, but I wanted to remember him again, and especially for Aviation of Japan readers, people who would certainly appreciate him.  Against the day that someone will call your number, but someone else will answer.'  

With special thanks to Mark for sharing this memory. More on the 'chocolate bar brown' Tony to follow.

Image credit: Book cover © 1972  Jon-Jay Publishers; Box art © 1987 and 1993 Hasegawa Corporation