A Pilot's Story - by Paul Schifferli

A brief history of the 873rd insignia of the 498th Bomb Group,
73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force

THE SQUADRON INSIGNIA: Designed originally for the 676th in Great Bend in December, 1943, it was immediately popular, but in the rapid change of events that followed it was lost in the shuffle and did not turn up again until the arrival of the 873rd. It survived a number of insignia contests and in July, of 1944 was adopted officially as the Squadron Insignia of the 873rd Bombardment Squadron. . . . Created to symbolize the immense size, yet graceful ease of the SUPERFORT, the elephant was chosen to typify size. His attitude, cocksure and easy going, symbolized the attitude of the men of the Squadron. The position of the hand dropping the bomb denoted ease and accuracy in ability to destroy the target, while the bomb became the symbol of destruction ... the cloud symbolized the altitude, while the little elephant's position of recline depicted the ease and grace of the immense 29 in flight. The red circle carried out the color scheme of the national colors. while the seven white stars on top and the three on the bottom designate the last two numerals of the Squadron number.

Crew	Type	A/C	City / Target	Date	Remarks	Hours	Iwo
JAK	DP	T??	Tachikawa - Hitchi Air	24Apr	Jack's 1stt with another crew	XXX	.
PPS	SD	.	Superdumbo	27Apr	Me with Stendahl's Crew	19:00	.
PPS	SD	.	Superdumbo	29 Apr	Me with Stendahl's crew	20:20	.
C -	DP	T8	Kyushu - Miyakondo	29 Apr	Schifferli did not fly	.	X
C	DP	T14	Kure -Hiro Naval ACF	5 May	Looped plane - JUNKED	9:40	X
C	DP	T14	Yokuyama - Naval Fuel	10May	NEW T 14	15:35	.
C	DI	T1	Nagoya - City	14May	Typhoon - last to land	13:00	X
C	.	.	Iwo to Saipan	15May	.	3:45	.
*	NI	T15	Nagoya - City	15May	Erickson with Brodies crew	.	.
C	W	T12	All of Japan	24May	To Guam then Saipan	14:50	.
C	NI	T1	Tokyo - City	25May	.	13:50	.
C	DI	T1	Yokohama - City	29May	.	12:20	X
C	.	.	Iwo to Saipan	30May	.	3:45	.
C	DI	T10	Kobe - City	5Jun	.	15:00	.
C	DI	T10	Osaka - City	7Jun	.	19:00	.
C -	.	T7	Hitachi - Kaigan Plant	10Jun	Schifferli did not fly	.	.
C -	DI	T7	Osaka - Amagasaki	15Jun	Schifferli did not fly	.	.
C -	NI	T7	Hamamaysu - City	17Jun	Schifferli did not fly	.	.
PPS	RR	.	Yawata - Radar Recon	17Jun	Schifferli with another crew	20:00	.
C -	NI	T7	Fukuoka - City	19Jun	Pacelli did not fly	19:40	.
C	DP	T4	Kure - Naval Arsenal	22Jun	.	17:45	.
C	NI	T7	Sasebo - City	26Jun	.	15:20	.
C	NI	T7	Kumamoto	1Jul	Mighty Fine I	15:10	.
C	DP	T10	Marcus Island - practice	4Jul	.	.	.
C	NI	T17	Akashi	6Jul	.	4:00	X
C	.	.	Iwo to Saipan	7Jul	.	3:20	.
C	NI	T7	Sakai - City	9Jul	Cracked up on Take Off	.	.
C	NI	T7	Ichinomiya - City	12Jul	New Mighty Fine II	16:15	.
C	NI	T7	Oita - City	16Jul	.	14:15	.
C	NI	T7	Hitachi - City	19Jul	.	15:35	.
C	DP	T7	Kuwana - Radar Plant	24Jul	Bombed Alternate	13:40	.
C	NI	T7	Matsuyama - City	26Jul	.	16:05	.
C	NI	T7	Ichinomiya - City	28Jul	.	16:15	.
C	NI	T7	Toyama - City	1Aug	.	14:45	.
C	DP	T7	Toyokawa - Naval Arsenal	7Aug	.	15:05	.
C	DP	T7	Osaka - Army Arsenal	14Aug	.	18:30	.
.	.		WAR ENDS	.	.	.	.
C	POW	T11	Osaka - POW Camp	28Aug	.	14:25	.
C	POW	T7	Niigata - POW Camp	31Aug	.	17:40	.
C	POW	T30	Tokyo - Atsugi Airfield	6Sep	Drop supplies to troops	16:30	.
.	.	.	.	.	TOTAL	444:05	.

Legend
NI = Night Incendiary	POW = Prisoner of War
DI = Daylight Incendiary	C = Entire crew flew mission
RR = Radar Recon Mission	W = Weather Recon
DP = Daylight Precision	C - = Crew less some members

Planes of the 873rd
Gained	From	Type	T No.	Number	NickName	Commander	Date	Remarks (Including date lost)
Date	.	.	.	Serial	.	Aircraft	Incident	.
.	.	.	.	.	Devil's Darling	AC-Lt. M. Malone	02/04/1945	M # 23 AC Killed over Kobe. Plane ditched and all others survived.
.	.	.	.	.	.	AC - G. Alexander	09/04/1945	POW # 6. POW Drop to Sendia area, Japan. All lost
12/17/44	US Proi 98087-TR	B-29	T-01	42-24727	Ruthless ???	AC - 1st Lt. H. MacDonald	03/31/1945	M # 36 Enroute to target, #3 engine backfired, prop would not feather, caught on fire - bombs salvoed - ditched 29-58N, 135-13E - All crew except tail gunner rescued
9/10/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-01	42-63430	.	AC - Capt. G. McCandliss	12/13/1944	M # 12 - #1 engine and instruments shot out - two crew members reported reported injured - Ditched 20-20N, 143-00E - No crew members rescued.
4/ 2145	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29A	T-01	42-94027	.	.
9/4/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-02	42-24605	Heat's On	AC - Ist Lt. J. Gress	12/27/1944	M # 16. Ditched (18-06N 144-25E) due to mechanical failure of fuel transfer system. 4 crew members rescued 12/28/44
9/3/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-02	42-24609	Lassie Come Home	No Record	01/14/1945	M # 19 Two engines shot up - structual damage to aircraft -Lost to Guam Air Depot 2/17/45
11/29/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-02	42-63468	.	AC - Lt. W. Breeland	02/10/1945	M # 24 - Radio out - accompanying aircraft observed #1 engine out - fuel low - dissappeared in dark.
12/24/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-02	42-63501	.	AC - Capt P. Kilgo	01/27/1945	M #22 Heavily attacked by fighters after leaving target - #1 engine shot out - last seen going into cloud near coast followed by fighters -
2/18/45	US - Proj 98202-R	B-20	T-02	42-65332	.	.	.	.
9/4/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-03	42-24608		Stendahl	02/04/1945	M # 23 Landed on return with #1 engine on fire. Surv.2/6/45
9/4/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-04	42-24611	Little Jo	AC - E. Fisher	04/29/1945	M # 63 - Aircraft damaged over target (Miyakonojo A/F, Kyushu) and crew bailed out soon after leaving the coast of Japan. 11 parachutes seen. 6 crew members rescued 5/1/45
4/28/45	497th Bomb Group	B-29	T-04	44-69932	Little Joe	.	.	.
.	.		T-05	42-24614	Joltin' Josie The Pacific Pioneer	AC - Capt W. Currier	04/01/1945	M # 37 Ditched after takeoff - All lost
4/3/45	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29A	T-05	42-94014	Little Butch	.	.	.
9/30/44	Manufacturer ***	B-29	T-06	42-24695	Lucky ‘Leven	.	.	Declared War Weary and returned to US 8/22/45
7/19/45	US - Proj 98255-S	B-29A	T-06	44-61734	Lucky Seven	.	.	Special Weather Strike Aircraft
9/7/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-07	42-24603	.	.	11/27/1944	damaged on ground by enemy raid 11/27. Surveyed 12/18/44
12/23/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-07	42-24777	.	Brodie	02/27/1945	Weather Strike Mission # 238 - #1 and #3 engines out - Ditched 20-10N, 136-25E - 9 crew members rescued 3/2/45
3/31/415	314th Bomb Wing	B-29A	T-07	42-93944	Mighty Fine I	AC - Lt. J. Tunnell	07/09/1945	M # 88 - Taxiing Accident before take-off, Tfd Guam Air Depot and salvaged.
7/10/45	US - Proj 98287-R	B-29A	T-07	44-61655	Mighty Fine II	AC - Lt. J. Tunnell
12/l0/44	US Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-08	42-24755	Tommy Hawk ??	AC - Capt. M. Trecek	11/08/1944	M # 5 Engine fire. 4 bailed out, rest ditched. 2 survived.
2/20/45	US - Proj 98194-R	B-29	T-08	44-69706	Vanishing Rae	.		.
3/20/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-08	44-69765	.		06/01/1945	.
11/29/44	US Proi 98087-TR	B-29	T-10	42-24735	.	AC - Lt. C. Fetter Pilot Capt. W. Doxey	12/03/1944	M # 10 - missing - Last message stated #1 engine out, another leaking oil, and aircraft was being attacked by enemy planes. First mission for plane.
12/11/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-10	42-24767	.	AC - Lt. W. Beyhan	01/27/1945	M # 22 - Two engines - fuel and electrical systems shot out - ditched for lack of fuel, 29-20N, 143-20E All lost.
1/29/45	505th Bomb Group	B-29	T-10	42-24794	Homer's Rommers	.	.	.
9/9/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-10	42-63428	.		11/27/1944	Strafed and burnt on ground in enemy raid
1/31/415	US - Proi 98190-R	B-29A	T-10	42-93881	.	AC - Lt. Geer	04/06/1945	Weather Strike Mission # 346 - Low on fuel and two engines out - no time to go around - pilot landed on Tinian with own lights - plane ground looped over cliff - completely destroyed - no major personnel injuries.
4/13/45	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29A	T-10	42-94030	Lucky Strikes	.	.	.
1/29/45	504th Bomb Group	B-29	T-11	42-63522	Raidin' Maiden	.	.	.
2/20/45	US - Proj 98202-R	B-29	T-11	42-65331	Arkansas Traveller	.	.	.
5/8/45	US - Proj 98249-R	B-29	T-11	44-69969	Oregon Express	.	.	.
1/1/45	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-12	42-63443	Shirley Dee	.	.	.
1/22/45	US - Proj 98164-R	B-29	T-12	42-65295	.	AC - 1st. Lt. M. Greer	04/29/1945	M # 63 - Following fighter attack plane left formation and last seen crashing on the ground - no chutes observed.
5/4/45	3rd Photo Recon Sq	F-13A	T-12	42-93852	.	.	.	7/6/45 - Tfd to 3rd Photo Recon Sqd. Guam
2/26/45	314th Bomb Wing	B-29A	T-14	42-93945	.	AC - Lt. J. Tunnell	05/05/1945	M # 65 - Bombs shook loose in storm - Tfd to Guam Air Depot - repaired and returned to the US as War Weary.
5/7/45	US - Proj 98249-R	B-29	T-14	44-69987	Kayo Kid	.	.
3/6/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-15	44-69747	.	AC - Lt. H. Kordsmeier	03/09/1945	M # 29 - Missing - no word - First Mission for plane
3/10/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-15	44-69752	.	AC - 1st. Lt. W. Filbert	04/01/1945	M # 37 - Missing - no word
4/5/45	500th Bomb Group	B-29	T-15	44-69848	.	AC - Lt. Hoffman	08/06/1945	M # 96 - Ran out of fuel and ditched 40 miles NW of Saipan - entire crew picked up same day.
6/28/45	US - Proj 98287-R-	B-29A	T-16	44-61623	Sally Dell	Geer?	.	.
7/3/45	US - Proj 98287-R	B-29A	T-16	44-61666	Sweet Sixteen	AC - !st Lt. B.Yount	06/01/1945	M # 75 - lost one engine enroute to target - bombs salvoed, bomb bay dors would not close - ditched, 19-30N, 144-00E - entire crew rescued.
9/3/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-45	42-24613	( On Loan)	AC - Lt. D. Horsfall	12/27/1944	M # 16. Lost #2 and #4 engines after take-off - ditched between Saipan and Tinian - 3 crew members rescued.

Planes of the 874th
Gained	From	Type	T No.	Number	NickName	Commander	Date	Remarks (Including date lost)
Date				Serial		Aircraft	Incident	.
.	***	.	T-21	42-24609	Lassie Come Home	.	.	.
3/7/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-21	42-65345	.	.	.	.
9/4/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-22	42-24610	Bedroom Eyes	.	.	61 missions Declared War Weary returned to US 8/18/45
9/15/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-23	42-2460l	Pocahontas	.	.	Survived war - 56 Missions
7/2o/45	US - Proj 98294-R	B-29A	T-24	44-61757	.	.	.	.
			T-25	42-63443	.	.	.	.
2/24/45	US - Proj 98204-R ***	B-29	T-25	42-63554	Miss Lace	.	.	Survived war
9/9/44	Manufacturer ***	B-29	T-26 T-29?	42-65210	Filthy Fay		03/24/1945	M # 34 - Missing - No Word
3/26/45	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29A	T-26	42-93999	Filthy Fay II	.	04/01/1945	M # 37 - Missing - No word
6/15/45	US - Proj 98287-R	B-29A	T-26	44-61661		.
5/24/45	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29	T-26	44-69852	Filthy Fay III	.	05/23/1945	M # 72 - Missing - No word.
	***		T-27	42-24646	Torchy	.	.	.
4/23/45	US - Proj 98234-R	B-29A	T-27	42-94046	.	.	.	.
9/30/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-28	42-63432	.	.	12/03/1944	M # 10 - Fuel system destroyed by enemy action - Ditched 20-45N, 145-55E - 10 crew members rescued 12/14/44
2/26/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-28	44-69729	.	.	.	At combat staging center, Iwo Jima, 7/21 - 8/4/45 and 8/11
2/26/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-28	44-69777	Danny-Mite	.	05/23/1945	M # 72 - Lost two engines over target - last reported trying to reach sea.
9/30/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-29	42-24681	.	.	12/03/1944	M # 10 - ditched 31-48N, 141-53E - reason unknown. None rescued
6/30/45	US - Proj 98287-R	B-29A	T-29	44-61678	Maiden's Prayer	.	.
2/26/45	314th 3omb Wing	B-29	T-29	44-69699	.	.	.	Damaged by ferry crew and not accepted on original delivery 2/27/45 - repaired and re-delivered by Guam Air Depot 4/8/45
5/l0/45	US - Proj 98249-R	B-29	T-30	44-70082	.	.	.
12/l0/44	US Proi 98087-TR	B-29	T-31	42-24742			06/05/1945	M # 76 - #2 engine damaged over target rammed by enemy aircraft after it fell out of formation & crashed into sea - 5 chutes observed. 4 crew members rescued 6/5/45. Plane was at Guam Lead Crew School 1/7/45-1/25/45
6/15/45	US - Proj 98251-R	B-29	T-31	44-70147	Sentimental Journey	.	.	.
12/l0/44	US Proj 98087-TR *	B-29	T-32	42-24749	Tanaka Termite	.	.	Declared war weary and returned to US, 8/22/45
12/13/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-33	42-63469	Sleepy Time Gal	.	.
12/19/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-34	42-24763	Geisha Gertie	.	01/14/1945	M # 19 - Ditched - Reason unknown - Last position 33-02N, 141-50E
7/25/45	US - Proj 98294-R	B-29A	T-34	44-61775	.	.
5/12/45	US - Proj 98249-R	B-29	T-34	44-69993	.	.	06/22/1945	M # 82 - Lost #2 and #4 engines shortly after takeoff - crash landed - no fatalities
			T-35	42-24748	.	.	.
12/26/44	US - Proi 98087-TR	B-29	T-35	42-67478	Southern Belle	.	.	At combat staging center, Iwo Jima, 7/18 -26/45 and 8/19
12/29/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-36	42-65248	.	.	06/05/1945	M # 76 - Both horizontal stabilizers damaged by flak - right wing burned from fire in #3 engine. Landed on Iwo Jima and surveyed 6/6/45
6/15/415	US - Proj 98251-R	B-29	T-36	44-70141	.	.	.	.
			T-37	42-63443	.	.	.	.
1/29/45	505th Bomb Group	B-29	T-38	42-63510	Heavenly Body		04/01/1945	M # 37 - 20mm shell holes in aileron, # 1 nacell, rear pressurized cabin, right elevator trim tab, left supercharger duct tunnel, bullet and shell fragment holes throughout aircraft - to Guam Air Depot 4/10/45

Planes of the 875th
Gained	From	Type	T No.	Number	NickName	Commander	Date	Remarks (Including date lost)
Date	.	.	.	Serial	.	Aircraft	Incident	.
9/l0/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-41	42-24606	Battling Betty		12/25/1944	Damaged on ground by enemy raid 12/25. Salvaged 1/6/45
12/26/44	US Proi 98087-TR	B-29	T-41	42-24760	Battling Betty I	.	02/10/1945	M # 24 - Ran out of fuel - last position 16-10N, 145-00 E. No further word.
2/18/45	US - Proj 98202-R	B-29	T-41	44-69722	Battling Betty III		.
12/26/44	US Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-42	42-24748	.	.	01/03/1945	M # 17. Crashed and burned on Anatahan, Marianas - reason unknown - no survivors - First mission for plane.
9/8/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-42	42-65212	Mrs. Tittymouse	.	04/07/1945	M # 39 - Shortly before reaching target (Tokyo) #1 engine hit by flak and left wing flew off - last seen going down in spin. Plane was also severly damaged on ground in raid on 12/25/44
4/19/45	US - Proj 98216-R	B-29	T-42	44-70001	.	.	.	.
9/15/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-43	42-24663	Willie Mae		03/31/1945	At Guam Air Depot for landing gear repair, 3/31/45 - 6/3/45
			T-43	42-65211	.	.	12/13/1944	Plane was also at Guam Air Depot to repair damage caused when a prop flew off and hit fuselage on Mission # 12 on 12/13/44
9/3/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-45	42-24613	.	AC - Lt. D. Horsfall	12/27/1944	M # 16. Lost #2 and #4 engines after take-off - ditched between Saipan and Tinian - 3 crew members rescued.
12/30/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-45	42-63444	Honshu Hawk	.		Guam Air Depot to repair damage received in landing accident on training flight, 3/28 - 5/12/45
			T-45	44-69749	.	.	.
9/15/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-46	42-63416	.	.	05/05/1945	M # 65 - #2 engine caught fir - flames quickly covered airplane - crashed into sea 5 miles off Saipan - 4 survivors rescued
5/7/45	US - Proj 98249-R	B-29	T-46	44-70075	.	.	05/23/1945	M # 72 - Missing - No word
6/14/45	US - Proj 98251-R	B-29	T-46	44-70145	.	.	.	.
			T-47	42-24771	.	.	.	.
12/23/44	US Proi 98108-R	B-29	T-48	42-24751	Antoinette	.	05/23/1945	M # 72. Missing - No word.
6/15/45	US - Proj 982P1-R	B-29	T-48	44-70135	Antoinette.	.	.	.
9/9/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-49	42-24544	Long Distance	.	08/12/45	Returned to US, War Weary
9/7/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-50	42-24607	Forbidden Fruit	.	08/12/45	Returned to US, War Weary - 65 missions
7/23/45	US - Proj 98287-R	B-29A	T-50	44-61711	.	.	.	.
12/12/44	US - Proj 98108-R	B-29	T-51	42-63475	Houston Honey		08/25/45	Declared War Weary and Returned to US
12/23/44	US - Proj 98087-TR	B-29	T-52	42-24771	.	.	.	.
1/29/45	505th Bomb Group	B-29	T-52	42-63524	Passion Wagon	.	.	.
			T-53	44-69706	.	.	.	.
			T-54	44-69729	.	.	.
3/24/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29A	T-55	42-93959	.	.	.	At combat staging center, Iwo Jima, from 8/5 -
3/21/45	US - Proj 98204-R	B-29	T-55	44-69749	.	.	.	.
			T-56	42-63445	.	.	.	.
7/21/45	US - Proj 98294-R	B-29A	T-57	44-61781	.	.	.	.
9/6/44	Manufacturer	B-29	T-58	42-65211	Lady Eve	.	05/25/1945	M # 73 - Lost #1 engine when hit by flak - another engine began backfiring - attempted to land at Iwo Jima, but Island weathered in - circled and crew bailed out - all rescued.