Boeing B-29, 42-6264

B-29-5-BW, s/n 42-6264, "O'Reilly's Daughter", 792nd Bomb Squadron, 468th Bomb Group, Liangsham, China

 

 

Nose art

 

The above and following series of photos were taken in Liangsham, China. The B-29, after making an emergency landing and dangerously low on fuel, this plane had to be refueled by pouring fuel from drums into 5 gallon cans then handing them up and pouring them directly into the tanks.

 

 

 

 



 

 

On August 20th 1944, "O'Reilly's Daughter" met its end. About 50 miles out from China the #2 engine started leaking oil and the engine started revving out of control, a fire then broke out in the engine, which was extinguished. The engine again started revving out of control and the order to bail out was given. Everyone in the tail bailed out. Nobody saw the tail gunner bail out or his chute open, but it is assumed he did bail. Up front the radar operator and the bombardier also bailed out. The remaining six crew stayed on hoping to get the plane to the shore. After reaching  the shore #3 engine started to run away. The rest of the crew bailed out at about 7,000 feet.

 

 

Crew:

Pilot: Lt. Col. William F. Savoie (s/n O-24115) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944

Co-pilot: 1st Lt. Raymond K. Lutz (s/n O-464590) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Navigator: Capt. Donald G. O'Brien (s/n O-426919) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Bombardier: Capt. Louis K. Wedel (s/n O-726095) - POW
RCM: 1st Lt. Robert C. Geyer (O-855161) - POW
Engineer: 1st Lt. Casimer F. Stelmach (O-738739) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Radar: T/Sgt. William A. Beckham (30403054) - POW
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Walter W. Alspaugh (s/n 35402887) - POW
Senior Gunner: S/Sgt. Ernest J. Brundage (s/n 31258095) - Returned to unit November 15th 1944
Left Gunner: S/Sgt. James P. Meehan (s/n 35309815) - POW
Right Gunner: S/Sgt. Granville L. Adams, Jr (s/n 33522614) - MIA possibly drowned
Tail Gunner: T/Sgt. Rolland B. Hefferman (s/n 6999780) - POW