468th Bomb Group China-Burma-India Losses
42-6229 – 793rd Bomb Squadron – Model B-29-1-MO – Delivered to USAAF on 2/24/44. Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/15/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/7/44.
India Combat Missions – 2
Hump Missions – 2
Crashed at end of runway on mission to Yawata, June 15, 1944.
At take off Captain Hughes in 42-6229 crashed at the end of the runway. As the ship was immediately enveloped in flames, ammunition cooked off and the bombs exploded. It was most certainly a miracle that every member of the crew got out safely with only minor scratches, burns and shock.
Crew
Capt. R.E. Hughes – AC
2nd Lt. C.E. Troyer – CP
2nd Lt. M.H. Pickard – N
2nd Lt. D.C. McComas – B
2nd Lt. S.G. Wolf – FE
S/Sgt. R.A. Singleton – R
Lt. J.B. Jett – V
Sgt. E.A. Shiver – CFC
S/Sgt. B.F. Smith – RG
S/Sgt. W.P. Scott – LG
S/Sgt. E.C. Hill – TG
42-6271 – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 12/19/43 – Model B-29-5-BW – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/13/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/5/44.
Hump Missions – 1
Abandoned enroute A-7 on 6/7/44. Crash occurred near Loshan in Szechwan Province, now known as Sichuan Province.
On June 7, 1944, while on a routine cargo mission over the hump, Major Pattillo and crew in 42-6271 were forced to bail out. The bail out occurred near Ho Shan, China. The cause was basically due to a run a way prop. The prop could not be feathered and soon all the oil was used up in attempting to feather the propeller. Nine members of the crew were rescued in five days. The body of Sgt. E.H. Tidy was found floating in a river 3 miles from the scene of the accident two days later. The remaining member of the crew Lt. G. Matthews has not been reported and is still MIA. 1st Lt. R.L. Cournoyer, reported as he floated down, the airplane started to dive straight at him. The airplane passed so close that his chute was deflated momentarily by the prop wash. He further stated that 42-6271 did two chandelles, dove straight for the ground for about 3000 feet, pulled up and finally dove to the ground. 42-6271 was completely demolished.
James Pattillo’s Statement: Bail out due to dragging runaway prop almost 200 miles without getting it slowed down, being above clouds over three hours with Navigator unsure of position and losing 7,000 feet with emergency power on remaining engines, still sinking into what appeared to be mountains. The crew of 42-6271bailed out in a relatively straight line with a river winding below which we weren’t aware of because of the clouds beneath us. Pattillo bailed out with three engines running at emergency power, therefore, when his hands left the aileron controls 42-6271started turning into the dead engine, once he stopped holding the nose, it dropped and 42-6271 went into a diving turn to the left, airspeed then started building up. Airspeed finally became so high that 42-6271 started climbing, after climbing slightly it started into a second dive and kept this up until it hit the ground.
Crew
Maj. James Pattillo – AC
2nd Lt. Geoffrey Matthews – CP – MIA
2nd Lt. Donald V. Irby – B
1st Lt. Richard M. Cournoyer – N
FO Ralph M. Roberts – FE
2nd Lt. Robert M. Humphrey - R
Sgt. Eric H. Tidy – RG - KIA
Sgt. Claude F. Frey - TG
Sgt. Henry G. Brogden - CFC
Sgt. T.M. Keegan – RO
Sgt. Stephen M. Klusovsky - LG
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42-6230 – “Limber Dugan” – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 2/19/44 – Model B-29-1-MO – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/15/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/4/44.
India Missions – 2
Hump Missions – 1
Mission to Yawata on June 15, 1944, reported as MIA. Missing Air Crew Report Number: 6596
Toru Fukubayashi report – 42-6230 crashed in Takasu, Wakamatsu City, Fukuoka Prefecture – 12 KIA – According to the GHQ/SCAP Report Number 1241, 12 crew members were on B-29 42-6230. One was a passenger whose name was Mr. William Shenkel rank and serial number unknown.
First B-29 shot down over Japan by WO Sadamitsu Kimura, who caught the Superfortress in the searchlights from below and started to attack. “I approached it to within 20 or 30 meters, suddenly everything became white because of the reflected light off the big fuselage of the enemy plane, which filled my gun sight. It started to climb in fear of being rammed by me. I did not hesitate, I started to fire and I could tell that I hit it. The nose came down slowly and it started to spin, I saw one piece of the fin come off”.
Captain Ivanovic and crew were never heard from after takeoff.
Crew
Capt. D.D. Ivanovic – AC
2nd Lt. C.M. McMichael – P
1st Lt. C.A. Fisher – N
1st Lt. G.A. Johnson – B
2nd Lt. D.W. Simonson – FE
S/Sgt. H.G. Levy – RO
2nd Lt. R.J. Hymel – R
Sgt. R.C. Arnds – CFC
Sgt. J.C. Dupuis – RG
M/Sgt. J.W. Goodroe – LG
S/Sgt. A.W. Davis – TG
42-6314 – 793rd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 1/20/44 – Model B-29-10-BW – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/13/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/3/44.
Hump Missions – 1
On June 8th Lt. Sloan’s crew returning from a normal cargo mission in 42-6314 to A-7 was reported missing.
Crew
1st Lt. Leslie J. Sloan – AC
2nd Lt. Carl B. Ray – P
2nd Lt. Frank W. Holms – N
2nd Lt. Vincent R. Casazza – B
2nd Lt. Robert E. Casey – FE
S/Sgt. William C. Lane – R
2nd Lt. Charles D. Gray – V
Cpl. William L. Shufelt – CFC
Cpl. Virgil W. Bailey – RG
Sgt. Francis D. Reed – LG – KIA
Cpl. Glen H. Moore – TG
1st Lt. Sloan and crew reported missing since June 8th on a return flight from A-7 to India finally turned up with harrowing stories of 29 days in the Chinese hinterland and their stories with the Lolo Tribe. Sgt. Francis P. Reed was unfortunately reported killed in the crash of 42-6314 as his body had been identified in the wreckage near Leipo, China.
42-6243 – “Roger the Lodger” – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 1/31/44 – Model B-29-1-BA – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/10/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/11/44.
India Combat Missions – 3
Hump Missions – 6
August 10, 1944 Mission to Naval Base at Nagasaki, Japan.
Due to mechanical failure, Major Brown and crew were forced to bail out near Taogan, China. All crewmembers were rescued in five days.
Crew
Maj. H.R. Brown – AC
1st Lt. J. Goeringer – CP
1st Lt. A.C. Beach – N
2nd Lt. W.E. Stern, Jr. – B
F/O J.C. Martin – FE
S/Sgt. J.S. Barto – RO
Sgt. R.B. Mogle – V
S/Sgt. J.I. Chobot – CFC
S/Sgt. M.F. Plant – LG
S/Sgt. B. Patterson – RG
S/Sgt. D. Nebeker, Jr. - TG
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42-6274 – “Lady Hamilton” 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 12/20/43 – Model B-29-5-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/14/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/17/44.
India Combat Missions – 2
Hump Missions – 10
Captain Robert Mills and his newly arrived alternate crew were flying “Lady Hamilton 42-6274 on their first mission to Anshan on July 29, 1944. They lost an engine enroute to the primary target and elected to go to the secondary target. A Japanese Zero shot them down over China. Most of the crew walked out and returned to A-7 safely, the following three crewmembers have not been heard from and the crewmembers reported only seeing one other parachute. KIA were A/C Captain Robert Mills, S/Sgt Walker, CFC and S/Sgt. Richard F. Wehrle, Radar Operator. MACR 6946
Crew
Capt. Robert G. Mills – AC – KIA
1st Lt. E. Moe – CP
2nd Lt. Rollins – FE
2nd Lt. R. Scandrett - B
2nd Lt. E.W. Peterson – N
S/Sgt. Joe Goodfriend, Jr. – RO
S/Sgt. F.S. Walker – CFC – KIA
S/Sgt. Theodore W. Lehmann – RG
S/Sgt. J. Wesley Mayer – LG
S/Sgt. Arthur H. Stein – TG
S/Sgt. Richard F. Wehrle – R – KIA
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42-6253 – “Windy City” 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 11/28/43 – Model B-29-1-BW – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/13/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/8/44.
India Combat Missions – 4
Hump Missions – 8
“Windy City” 42-6253 made a belly landing at A-7 and was lost to the 15th Repair Squadron on 8/22/44 after returning from Yawata mission. She was scrapped in the CBI on 10/11/44.
Crew
Capt. Gust Askounis – A/C
2nd Lt. John K. Schaefer – CP
1st Lt. Jim Ward – FE
1st Lt. Jim Rutlege – N
2nd Lt. Jack Diamond – B
Tech. Sgt. William Mann – RO
S/Sgt. Fred D. Brownwell – CFC
S/Sgt. Herman K. Sigrist – RG
S/Sgt. Edward J. Mertz – LG
S/Sgt. Therman Hassinger – TG
2nd Lt. William R. Arentsen – R
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42-6238 – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 11/8/43 – Model B-29-1-MO – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/15/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/24/44.
India Combat Missions – 1
Hump Missions – 18
42-6238 was converted to a tanker in the CBI.
Lost October 1, 1944 routine cargo mission, weather involved.
On October 1, 1944 aircraft 42-6238, piloted by Captain Winkler of the 792nd Bomb Squadron crashed on a routine cargo mission to the Advance Base, under circumstances which left little doubt that all on board perished. Aboard 42-6238 as passengers were Captain Thomas Maxwell, Medical Officer and T/Sgt. S.C. Spillers, Crew Chief of 42-6238.
Crew – All KIA
Capt. Eddie Winkler – AC
1st Lt. Robert Purvis – CP
2nd Lt. John Geene – FE
2nd Lt. Earl Thompson - N
Maj. John Matthews – Passenger
Capt. Thomas Maxwell – Passenger
T/Sgt. Jack Raymond – RO
T/Sgt. Ward Clark – Crew
S/Sgt. Henry Eyerman – Crew
T/Sgt. Samuel Spillers, Jr. – Crew Chief
42-6255 – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 12/13/44 – Model B-29-5-BW – Departed Smoky Hill on 4/10/44 for India and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 4/18/44.
No Missions
On May 1, 1944, two B-29’s were dispatched to make the first trips over the Hump to the 468th Base at China. Lt. Sims’s crew was in 42-6255. Fifty miles north of Jorhat, Lt. Sims’s crew were forced to bail out, number 2 engine on fire and fire could not be controlled, 42-6255 on her Maiden Flight was four hours into the flight and at 23,000 feet. The plane was a total loss. Members of the crew were picked up within 2 days. Lt Pottol, Radar Operator, was found drowned in a river near the scene of the crash.
Crew
Lt. Sims – AC
Lt. Dick Smith – CP
Lt. Bob Harden –
Lt. Bloes – B
Sgt. William McCarthy – Passenger
Sgt. Frank J. Lewis – Crew Chief
Lt. Pottle – R – KIA
Sgt. Ernie Dunlevy – Crew
Cpl. Armando J Maceyra - Passenger
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42-6231 – 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 1/26/44 – Model B-29-1-MO – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/10/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 4/29/44.
India Combat Missions – 1
Hump Missions – 3
Crashed on return from Yawata, June 16, 1944, MACR 6599.
The crew was known as Crew #6 which was reported missing from the Yawata Raid. It was later reported that all men were killed when B-29 42-6231, in which they were flying, crashed into a mountain about 100 miles north of their base in China.
Crew
Maj. Kenneth L. Akins – AC – KIA
2nd Lt. Floyd E. Lund – CP – KIA
2nd Lt. Salvador Munoz, Jr. – KIA
1st Lt. Paul R. Aeh – KIA
2nd Lt. Timothy J. Barrett – KIA
Sgt. Norvel G. Robertson – KIA
Sgt. Arnold H. Mann – KIA
Sgt. Homer B. Pack, Jr. – KIA
Sgt. Sidney Gilman – KIA
Sgt. Mell Witcher- KIA
S/Sgt. William H. Sorenson – KIA
These men were held in high esteem and they will not be forgotten as our Squadron endeavors to carry on in the destruction which they and we came over to deal to our enemy….794th Squadron
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42-6235 – 795th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 1/2/44 – Model B-29-1-BA – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/17/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 6/10/44.
Last of the original crews to leave Smoky Hill.
No Missions
6/26/44 Crashed and surveyed.
After arriving in India 42-6235 had to have all four engines changed. 42-6235 was a total loss due to retraction of the landing gear while taxiing. There were no injuries.
Crew
Capt. Boyce C. Anderson – AC
2nd Lt. Frederick N. Corvinus – CP
2nd Lt. Robert Feldman – FE
2nd Lt. Charles Morissi – B
2nd Lt. Richard H. Stillions – N
Sgt. Eugene Sommerville – RO
Sgt. Alexander D. Coan – CFC
Sgt. William C. Hubbard – RG
Sgt. Paul R. Hunt – LG
Sgt. John N. Pletcher – TG
1st Lt. Owen T. Barry II – R
M/Sgt. Edward F. Hilbert – Crew Chief
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42-6264 – “O’Reilly’s Daughter” – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 12/16/43 – Model B-29-5-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/13/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 4/29/44.
India Combat Missions – 5
Hump Missions – 5
42-6264 was lost returning from the Yawata Raid August 21, 1944, crew reported MIA. MACR 11297 – Lt. Col. Savoie was the Commanding Officer of the 792nd Bomb Squadron. At the China coast Col. Savoie had Pickett on his right wing and Van Horne on his left wing. They picked up their course for the bomb run and on the course ahead the enemy had put up flak in a box pattern for them to fly through. Pickett’s B-29 was hit and went down, Col. Savoie’s 42-6264 got through but were them attacked by fighters and 42-6264 was hit and losing altitude. They bailed out near the China coast.
In September word was received that 5 crew members of 42-6264 had reached the safety of Chinese guerrilla forces behind Japanese lines in occupied China. 1 crew member was captured by the Japanese and 6 KIA.
On November 18, 1944, Col. Savoie, former Squadron Commander, 792nd, Capt. O’Brien Navigator, Lt. Stelmach FE, Lt. Lutz CP, and S/Sgt. Brundage CFC, returned to the 468th Bomb Group India base. They were forced to bail out due to two runaway props which could not be feathered. Some of the crew bailed out over the Yellow Sea and have not been heard from since. All five crew members appeared before the Evasion and Escape Board. The Board decided that all five men should be returned to the United States. All five departed for the U.S. on November 25, 1944.
Crew
Lt. Col. Savoie – AC- Rescued
Capt. O’Brien – Rescued
Lt. Lutz – Rescued
Lt. Stelmach – Rescued
Sgt. Brundage – Rescued
S/Sgt. James P. Meehan – POW – Liberated
Capt. Louie K. Wedel – KIA
T/Sgt. William A. Beckham – KIA
T/Sgt. Walter W. Alspaugh – KIA
S/Sgt. Granville L. Adams – KIA
T/Sgt. Rollin B. Hefferman – KIA
1st Lt. R.C. Geyer - KIA
42-6362 – 792nd Bomb Squadron – Delivered to the USAAF on 2/22/44 – Model B-29-15-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/10/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 4/19/44.
India Combat Missions – 10
Hump Missions – 7
Takeoff crash 11/21/44 Omura mission, 10 KIA, 1 Survivor.
Captain Maisch crashed shortly after takeoff. He made a normal takeoff but 42-6362 settled into some trees one half mile off the south end of the runway. He lost one of his left engines due to the fact that the prop hit a large tree, breaking off part of one of his blades. 42-6362 pulled off to the left with the left wing down and the right wing up in a very step turn, 42-6362 never pulled out and went into the ground left wing first, cartwheeling. The tail gunner was found 75 feet from the scene of the crash.
Crew
Capt. H.C. Maisch – AC – KIA
Lt. O.E. Whitley – CP – KIA
1st Lt. E.R. Johnson – FE – KIA
2nd Lt. P.L. Westbrook – N- KIA
2nd Lt. F.E. Meredith – B – KIA
2nd Lt. J.G. Christie – R – KIA
S/Sgt. R.J. Peterson – RO – KIA
T/Sgt. R.R. Brown – RG – KIA
Sgt. H.B. Jackson – CFC – KIA
S/Sgt. O.A. Pegg – LG – KIA
Sgt. Holst – TG – Survived
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42-6368 – “Calamity Sue” – 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 2/24/44 – Model B-29-15-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/13/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/4/44.
India Combat Missions – 4
Hump Missions – 3
August 20, 1944, Yawata Raid was hit by pieces of 42-6334, which was rammed by a Japanese fighter piloted by Sgt. Shigeo Nobe.
Crashed in Einumaru, Orio-Cho, Yawata City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
Two crewmembers of 42-6368 were captured shortly after the landed and were moved to Seibu Army Headquarters, then moved and imprisoned in Omori POW Camp and returned to the USA after the war. One crewmember of 42-6368 was captured the next day and moved to Ofuna POW Camp and later to Omori POW Camp and returned to the USA after the war. One crewmember of 42-6368 died of his wounds on 24 August 1944 at Kokura Army Hospital.
1st Lt. Jimmy Wine landed safely and escaped to the mountains. He appeared at Ashiya Air Field on 31 August 1944 and fought against the Japanese soldiers with his pistol and was shot to death.
Crew
Capt. Ornell J. Stauffer – KIA
Lt. B.R. Bloom – KIA
Lt. A.C. Shott – POW – Liberated
T/Sgt. R.W. Bonner – KIA
S/Sgt. J.J. Karlovich – KIA
Sgt. R.J. Keelan – KIA
Lt. Jimmie Wind – KIA – 8/31/44
Lt. I.S. Newman – POW – Liberated
T/Sgt. W.A. Dansby – POW – Liberated
S/Sgt. C.A. Martin – KIA
S/Sgt. J.A. O’Brien – KIA
****One crewmember of 42-6368 listed as KIA above died of his wounds on 8/24/44.
42-6334 – “Gertrude C” – 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 2/4/44 – Model B-29-10-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/14/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/4/44.
India Combat Missions – 2
Hump Missions – 5
August 20, 1944, Yawata Raid was rammed by a Japanese fighter and crashed in Jinnohara, Orio-cho, Yawata City, Fukuoka Prefecture.
On August 20, 1944, Col. Robert Clinksdales was leading his four aircraft diamond formation in 42-6334, which was named after his mother. 4th Sentai’s Sgt. Shigeo Nobe maneuvered his Nick fighter into 42-6334 flight path. He banked the fighter to the right so that his right wing came vertical to 42-6334 the fighter sliced into 42-6334’s left wing between the tip and number one engine. 42-6334 exploded in a fireball. The entire crew were KIA along with Col. Clinksdales cocker spaniel, Sally, who was along for the ride. Col. Clinksdale was the Commanding Officer of the 794th Bomb Squadron.
Crew
Lt. Col. R.S. Clinksdale – AC – KIA
Lt. D.A. Castleberry – KIA
Capt. G.S. Kadinger – KIA
Capt S.S. Smyth – KIA
Lt. D.E. Himage – KIA
M/Sgt. Loy. F. Baker – KIA
M/Sgt. W. Richards, Jr. – KIA
T/Sgt. J.T. Fitzpatrick – KIA
S/Sgt. P.S. Brouillard – KIA
M/Sgt. C.L. McHeny – KIA
Lt. D. Hamadi – KIA – 15th Maintenance Squadron an observer
Sally – KIA
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42-6365 – “General H. H. Arnold Special” – 794th Bomb Group – Delivered to USAAF 0n 2/24/44 – Model B-29-15-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/14/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 4/29/44.
India Combat Missions – 12
Hump Missions – 11
November 11, 1944, target the Omura Aircraft Factory.
From over the target 42-6365 reported that it was low on gas and nothing further was heard from 42-6365. MACR 9664
42-6365 ended up in Vladivostok, Russia, the crew and 42-6365 were interned by the Russians and later released/escaped into Iran. The crew never saw 42-6365 again.
Crew
Capt. Weston H. Price – AC – Interned – Released
1st Lt. John Flanagan – CP – Interned – Released
1st Lt. Eugene Rutherford – FE – Interned – Released
1st Lt. Melvin Sherer – N- Interned – Released
1st Lt, Edwin Morrison – B – Interned – Released
T/Sgt. David Pletter – RO – Interned – Released
T/Sgt. Henry J. Stavinski – R – Interned – Released
S/Sgt. Frank A. Weed – CFC – Interned – Released
S/Sgt. John Bardunias – RG – Interned – Released
M/Sgt. Donald Larkin – LG – Interned – Released
S/Sgt. Millard S. Cook – TG – Interned – Released
M/Sgt – Jack Hague – Crew Chief
42-6358 – “Ding Hao” – 794th Bomb Squadron – Delivered to USAAF on 2/23/44 – Model B-29-15-BW – Departed Smoky Hill for India on 4/14/44 and gained by the 468th Bomb Group on 5/3/44.