Up for sale is an incredible, original piece of World War II aviation history: a transparent acetate flight map/mission overlay dated January 1945.

ACETATE MAPS ARE EXCEEDINGLY RARE!!!

Produced for CINCPAC-CINCPOA (Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet / Pacific Ocean Areas) by the 30th Engineer Base Topographic Battalion, this overlay details a flight path and communication protocols in the Marianas, plotting a course from Guam and Tinian north toward Iwo Jima.

Given the date (January 1945) and the starting point of West Field on Tinian, this was likely used by USAAF B-29 Superfortress crews or escort fighters conducting missions over the Pacific or during the strategic bombing campaign of Japan.

• The Material: Acetate mission overlays are incredibly rare. Unlike paper maps, which were mass-printed and folded into footlockers, these transparent sheets were used directly over standard grid maps during active flight briefings or radar operations. They were fragile, prone to cracking or shrinking, and usually thrown away after a mission or campaign.

• The Location (Tinian & Guam): West Field on Tinian and Orote Field on Guam are legendary among WWII aviation historians. Tinian was the primary hub for the massive B-29 Superfortress fleets carrying out the strategic bombing of Japan (and eventually, where the Enola Gay launched from).

• The Specificity: Standard maps just show geography. This overlay shows a specific operational blueprint: a direct flight heading, assigned radar picket locations ("BIRDDOG"), and specific radio channels for "Air Sea Excellent historical condition. Shows signs of age, including some smudging and wear typical of field use, but all text and flight paths are perfectly legible. Please review photos carefully for exact condition.
  

  Key Features & Markings on the Map:

  • Airfields: Points of origin include West Field (Bromide Tower, El. 227') on Tinian and Orote Field (Orote Tower, El. 70') on Guam.

  • Flight Path: Shows a primary headingtracking north past Saipan, Pagan, and Maug, culminating near Iwo Jima at a rendezvous point ("RP 0900 ALT. 9000'").

  • Naval/Air Call Signs: Marks locations for radar pickets, rescue subs, or relay stations including "BIRDDOG-61", "BIRDDOG-63", and "BIRDDOG-64".

  • Mission Assets: Lists "DOCTOR 1, 2, 3" and "NIGHT JAR 1 (Weather P-61)" and "NIGHT JAR 2 (Abort Escort)".

  • Comms Protocols: Detailed communication block on the lower left:

    • Channel A: Take Off & Land

    • Channel B: Contact Doctors

    • Channel C: Air Sea Rescue

    • Channel D: Uncle Dog From Doctors

  This is a museum-quality piece of militaria perfect for WWII collectors, USAAF historians, or anyone interested in the Pacific theater and the B-29 bomber offensive. It looks fantastic when backlit or placed over a solid background (as shown in the WITH CONFIDENCE- I have a no-questions asked satisfaction guarantee. I have been on for 20 years and recently divested my business account. I maintained 100% positive response for decades and I'm very proud of that. I'm now doing a little more selling (and buying) on my personal account.
  Please don't ever hesitate to reach out with questions or concerns. I'm always happy to provide additional pictures upon request.
  Shipped USPS Priority Mail.
  I reserve the right to cancel any purchase based on a buyer's rating, location, and/or ultimately my sole discretion. U.S. Shipping ONLY!
  
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