hw97karbine
Airman 1st Class
- 248
- Mar 23, 2025
The remains of 882nd Bomb Squadron B-29 Superfortress 42-24766 that came down near Matsudaira village in Japan after being rammed by a 55th Sentai Kawasaki Ki-61 on January 3rd 1945
On January 3rd 1945 42-24766 "The Leading Lady" was one of 97 B-29s that took off from Aslito Field (Isely) on Saipan on a bombing mission against Nagoya urban areas and docks. Each B-29 was armed with fourteen M-69 incendiary cluster bombs.
Nineteen aborted before reaching the target and 57 hit the primary target and 21 others bombed alternate targets; Japanese fighters made 300+ attacks against the formation while B-29 gunners claim 14-14-20 Japanese aircraft. Five B-29s were lost during the mission including this aircraft.
Over the target the formation was intercepted by Ki-61 Tonys from Komaki Airfield and Itami Airfield, plus 210 Kokutai Zeros, J1N1 Irvings and D4Y Judys from Meiji Airfield. Over Okazaki, southeast of Nagoya, 42-24766 was rammed by a 55th Sentai Ki-61 Tony piloted by 1st Lt. Minoru Shirota. The latter succeeded in bailing out but would succumb to his injuries the following day.
The B-29 was hit between the nose and #3 engine and fell out of formation, leveled out then suffered an explosion and rolled over on its back and went into a spin.
During the impact, tail gunner Hedges was thrown out of the tail escape hatch and was the only member of the crew who was able to escape the aircraft. While descending he claimed to have been fired on by two enemy aircraft. After landing, he was taken prisoner and was liberated from Omori POW Camp at the end of WWII and returned to the United States.
Pilot Major Wilbur E. "Barney" Hurlbutt (MIA / KIA)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Felix P. Omilian (MIA / KIA)
Bombardier 1st Lt. Glendon M. Aitken (MIA / KIA)
Navigator 1st Lt. Edward H. Stoehr (MIA / KIA)
Engineer 1st Lt. Glenn C. Truesdell (MIA / KIA)
Radio Sgt Joseph P. Nighan (MIA / KIA)
Radar SSgt Paul E. Dreyer (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Sgt Karl Hunt (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Sgt Frank J. Yanik (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Cpl Richard P. Steinberg (MIA / KIA)
Passenger Lt. Col Marcus A. Mullen (MIA / KIA)
Tail Gunner Sgt Harold T. Hedges (POW, survived)
On January 3rd 1945 42-24766 "The Leading Lady" was one of 97 B-29s that took off from Aslito Field (Isely) on Saipan on a bombing mission against Nagoya urban areas and docks. Each B-29 was armed with fourteen M-69 incendiary cluster bombs.
Nineteen aborted before reaching the target and 57 hit the primary target and 21 others bombed alternate targets; Japanese fighters made 300+ attacks against the formation while B-29 gunners claim 14-14-20 Japanese aircraft. Five B-29s were lost during the mission including this aircraft.
Over the target the formation was intercepted by Ki-61 Tonys from Komaki Airfield and Itami Airfield, plus 210 Kokutai Zeros, J1N1 Irvings and D4Y Judys from Meiji Airfield. Over Okazaki, southeast of Nagoya, 42-24766 was rammed by a 55th Sentai Ki-61 Tony piloted by 1st Lt. Minoru Shirota. The latter succeeded in bailing out but would succumb to his injuries the following day.
The B-29 was hit between the nose and #3 engine and fell out of formation, leveled out then suffered an explosion and rolled over on its back and went into a spin.
During the impact, tail gunner Hedges was thrown out of the tail escape hatch and was the only member of the crew who was able to escape the aircraft. While descending he claimed to have been fired on by two enemy aircraft. After landing, he was taken prisoner and was liberated from Omori POW Camp at the end of WWII and returned to the United States.
Pilot Major Wilbur E. "Barney" Hurlbutt (MIA / KIA)
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Felix P. Omilian (MIA / KIA)
Bombardier 1st Lt. Glendon M. Aitken (MIA / KIA)
Navigator 1st Lt. Edward H. Stoehr (MIA / KIA)
Engineer 1st Lt. Glenn C. Truesdell (MIA / KIA)
Radio Sgt Joseph P. Nighan (MIA / KIA)
Radar SSgt Paul E. Dreyer (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Sgt Karl Hunt (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Sgt Frank J. Yanik (MIA / KIA)
Gunner Cpl Richard P. Steinberg (MIA / KIA)
Passenger Lt. Col Marcus A. Mullen (MIA / KIA)
Tail Gunner Sgt Harold T. Hedges (POW, survived)
