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313th Bomb Wing - 9th Bomb Group - 5th Bomb Squad

Back Row(L-R) Vincent J. Rauen-RO, James G. Goodloe- Bombardier, Louis F. McMenamy-Navigator, William J. Martin-Radar, Sydney P. Craig Jr.-Pilot, Charles A. Glock-A/C.
Front Row(L-R): James E. Taggart-R Gunner, Elden L. Ice-T.Gunner, James G. Schaffer-L. Gunner, Harry R. Jones-CFC, John R. Lezovich-F.E.

Photo sent in by John Lezovich's nephew, Joe.







My brother, Robert (Bob) Richey sent home a picture of the Hi-Stepper to my mother some years ago. He was a top rear gunner. Bob never talked about his experience, but my other brother said that after one bombing mission, the pilot was killed and the co-pilot was injured. They crashed landed in China. You can't see it on the attached photo (see above), but a name below the front top gunner was N. Bell, and above the Hi-Stepper figure is the name G. Morene. The serial # 44-65275 - 20th AF - 58th Bomb Wing - 468th Bomb Group (Triangle-L) - 794th Bomb Squadron. - Sent in by David Richey

 



The attached photo was made of me at North Field flight line the day after the atomic bomb drop. I went down to the flight line to essentially look at the bombay for curiosity. There was no security. To my surprise, another pilot and myself investigated the Enola Gay at will. - Bill Wishner

 



Standing left to right: S/Sgt Agoglia., (Right Blister Gunner) 2nd Lt. J. Iliff (Pilot) J. Epton, (Flight Surgeon) Major J. Dendy, (Air Plane Commander), and General Davies.

Kneeling left to right: S/Sgt. G. Bernstein, (Radar Operator) M/Sgt. H. Vitte ( Flight Engineer ) S/Sgt. J. Czemerda, (Radio Operator) 2nd Lt. D. Solokow, (Navigator) S/Sgt. J. Bertucci, (Lt. Blister Gunner), S/Sgt. B. Allen, (Tail Gunner) 1st Lt. P. Pollock, (Bombardier) Missing from photo T/Sgt. T. Boswell, (Central Fire Control).

This B29 is one of three B29's that were the first to land on Tinian's North Field. The aircraft were picked up in Nebraska; this was their departure point. The stops along the way were California, Hawaii, Kwajalein, Gaum, Saipan, and then Tinian. However the three B29's had to wait on Saipan until the airstrip was finished on Tinian, (a few days).

As the first planes to land on Tinian, the 67th SEA BEES adopted my father's airplane, M/Sgt. Harold N. Vitte who was the Flt. Engineer of INDIAN MAID. As you can see in the picture, when the SEA BEE's installed the nose art they included their insignia along side the plane's name.

This photograph was taken on March 18, 1945. Brig. General James H. Davies, 313 Wing Commanding Officer, greeted and congratulated the aircrew of the B29 known as the INDIAN MAID (serial number 42-24809), upon returning from a successful firebombing raid on Nagoya, Japan. This plane was part of the 482nd Bomb Squadron - 505th Bomb Group - 313th Bomb Wing - 20th Air Force.

My father flew 35 missions against the Empire in two aircraft; both named the INDIAN MAID. The first plane received heavy damage over Japan and was grounded.

MISSION DATA
Target: Nagoya, Japan
Wings assigned: 73rd, 313th, & 314th Wings.
Bomb Type: Incendiary Bombs
Altitude: 6,500 feet
Length of Mission: 14 hours
Planes over target: 290
Planes lost over target: 1
Bombs dropped 1,863 tons
Armament Twin: .50 caliber tail guns only 100 rounds each

My father is still alive and lives in Freeport, Ohio. He attends all the reunions and is looking forward to the next one in San Diego, Ca. - Jim Vitte





Ted Rush's Air Crew M-52

"The City of Cincinnati"
314th Bomb Wing, 19th Bomb Group, 93rd. Squadron

Standing from left: First LT. Patrick E Simons - Radar, Master SGT. Burton P Hill - R. Gunner *, First LT. Gordon Skinner - Navigator *, First LT. Lester G Hapgood - Bombardier (D), Staff SGT. Robert Soenksen - Radio Operator(D), First LT. James Harris Jr. - Co-pilot
Sitting from left: First LT. Theodore Rush - Pilot, A/C *, Master SGT. Ralmond J Smiltneck - Engineer *, Staff SGT. Murt Vonleer - Tailgunner * , SGT. James Harvan L. - Gunner *, Tech. SGT. Howard W Whiting - CFC Gunner (D)

Photograph and information sent in by Howard Whiting's son, David. * stands for David has talked with the person and D stands for deceased. You can write David here.

L to R standing; James Harris, Ted Rush, Gordon Skinner, R.J. Smiltneek, James Harvan, David Whiting (son of Howard Whiting), Murt VonLeer
Kneeling; Burt Hill, Mary Ellen Ponzio (Daughter of Ernie Hamilton, tailgunner, injured 6/5 Kobe)


Here's some of the same crew 55 years later (minus the female)

Photograph and information sent in by Howard Whiting's son, David