Boeing B-29, 44-69736

B-29-60-BW, s/n 44-69736, "Look Homeward Angel", 39th Bomb Squadron, 6th Bomb Group, Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto, August 11th 1945

 

Nose art

 

The First B-29 to land on Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto. It returning to its base on Guam, from a bombing mission over Japan, when it was forced to land on Bolo strip due to damage to engine #4. The engine was damaged by flak, which had cut the oil line and damaging the elevator and stabilizer. There also seemed to be less serious damage to engine #3.

 

It was the first B-29 to land on Bolo strip

 

 

Here maintenance men are seen replacing engine #3 on the aircraft. The crew was flown in to repair the plane with all possible speed.

Boeing B-29, 42-63561

B-29-30-BA, s/n 42-63561, "Ready Teddy" 5th Bomb Squadron, 9th Bomb Group, at the airfield on Okinawa, Ryukyu Retto

 

 

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



Boeing B-29, 42-24464

B-29, s/n 42-24464, "Flying Stud II",  376th Bomb Squadron, 444th Bomb Group. China 1944

 

 

 

The camels signify how many times it has flown over the "hump" Himalayas. Heart symbol is for being hit by flak. Returned to U.S. as War-Weary on 06/15/1945

 

Boeing B-29, 42-63393

 

 

 

B-29-10-BA, s/n 42-63393, "Rush Order", 768th Bomb Squadron, 462nd Bomb Group, 58th Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force, Piardoba Airfield, India

 

 

Nose art

 

 

According to 1st Lt. Clarence Myron Miller (s/n O-746595), Navigator-Bombadier on "Rush Order", the aircraft flew 33 missions and 6 hump missions