NOVEMBER 1944 1944: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1945 1st ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 1945 2nd ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep

1 November 1944 (page 484)

No actions reported.

2 November 1944 (page 485)

CAROLINE ISLANDS
Seventeen of 20 73rd BW B-29's dispatched from the Marianas attack the submarine pens on Dublon Island, Truk Atoll.

JAPAN
A Saipan based F-13 of the 20th AF 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron becomes the first American airplane to fly over Tokyo since the Doolittle raid of April 1942.

3 November 1944 (page 486)

BURMA
Forty-four 58th BW B-29's based near Calcutta, India, attack rail yards at Malagon; approximately 45 B-29's attack alternate targets.

42-6298 "Katie" 40th BG, Thomas Crew, Hsinching, China, blew tires and ground looped, never flew again.

4 November 1944 (page 487)

No actions reported.

5 November 1944 (page 487)

EAST INDIES
Seven B-29's from the 58th BW attack a refinery on Sumatra when they were unable to reach their primary target at Singapore.

MALAYA
Fifty-three of 76 B-29's dispatched from the Calcutta area attack the Singapore naval base putting the King George VI Graving Dock (one of the world's best drydocks) out of operation for 3 months. Two B-29's are lost and among the missing is Col. Ted S. Faulkner, the 468th BG commanding officer.

Two B-29's are lost: 42-6370 "Lethal Lady", 468th BG, 793rd Squadron Among the missing airman is Col. Ted S. Faulkner the 468th Bomb Group's Commanding Officer, along with staff members Maj. Arnoldus and Maj. Johnson. The crew are: Col. Ted S. Faulkner, AC and 468th Group Commander Major Robert Arnoldus, Nav and Staff Navigator Major Harve Johnson, Bombadier and Staff Bombardier Lt. Ike Eigler, Pilot Lt. Pete Peterson, Radar Operator F/O Ed Kennedy, Flight Engineer Sgt William Glibbon, Radio Operator S/Sgt Albert Gruber, Gunners S/Sgt Buster Westbrook, Gunners Sgt. Ward Miller, Gunners S/Sgt Emerald Queen, Gunners Although no message was received, it is certain that the ship went down at sea. A plane from another Group reported seeing empty rafts at the last location, but search missions of the area revealed absolutely no clue. 42-6444 462nd BG, Simpson Crew, lost on take off, engine fire, crew bailed out 1 MIA, 10 saved

VOLCANO ISLANDS
Twenty-four of 36 B-29's dispatched from the 73rd BW on Saipan attack two of Iwo Jima's three airfields. This is the beginning of tactical operations against the island in preparation for the US invasion in Feb '45.

6 November 1944 (page 489)

No actions reported.

7 November 1944 (page 490)

No actions reported.

Japan: Approximately 100 Japanese fighters are launched against a 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron F-13, B-29, as it overflies Honshu but only two of the fighters are able to get within 1,000 yards of the USAAF B-29, which can fly higher and faster than most Japanese fighters.

8 November 1944 (page 490)

VOLCANO ISLANDS
Of 17 73rd BW B-29's dispatched against Iwo Jima from bases in the Marianas, only six are able to drop their bombs through holes in the heavy cloud cover. A Japanese A6M drops a phosphorus bobm on the B-29 formation, damaging one B-29. Also, one B-29 ditches on the return flight, the XXI's first operational loss. Only two crewmen are eventually rescued.

42-24645 T Square 8, 498th BG, MACR 10004, Tracek Crew, ditched, 2 survivors. Paul Paskert is listed as one of the MIA.

9 November 1944 (page 491)

No actions reported.

10 November 1944 (page 491)

No actions reported.

11 November 1944 (page 492)

CAROLINE ISLANDS
Eight of nine B-29's dispatched from the 500th BG make their unit's combat debut with an attack against the IJN submarine base on Dublon Island at Truk Atoll. (This is the last of the 73rd BW's six combat-familiarization missions.)

JAPAN
Failing to receive a recall order, 29 of 96 58th BW B-29's dispatched from Chengtu attack Omura with radar through heavy clouds. More that 40 others bomb the target of last resort Nanking and various alternates targets and targets of opportunity. Results are negligible, and five B-29's are lost in the day's operations, including one that lands in the Soviet Union.

42-6365, "General H.H. Arnold Special" diverts to Vladivostok. Second intact airframe for Soviet TU-4 copy of B-29. Crew POW, later allowed to escape through Iran.

12 November 1944 (page 494)

No actions reported.

13 November 1944 (page 494)

No actions reported.

Lee Florence's Diary: "Arrived Saipan Island Marianas Island Nov. 13, 1944." (Later notes: "We were advised to dig foxholes next to our Quonset hut as soon as possible. Our hut contained the officers of our crew and those of Capt. Brashear's crew.")

14 November 1944 (page 495)

No actions reported.

15 November 1944 (page 495)

No actions reported.

Lee Florence's Diary: Saipan Nov. 15, 1944 "Ist briefing for 'TOKYO' Nakajima Engine Plant"

16 November 1944 (page 496)

No actions reported.

17 November 1944 (page 497)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

18 November 1944 (page 497)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

19 November 1944 (page 498)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

20 November 1944 (page 499)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

21 November 1944 (page 500)

JAPAN
Sixty-one of 109 B-29's dispatched from the 58th BW at Chengtu attack an aircraft factory at Omura with 199 tons of bombs; 13 B-29's bomb Shanghai and several others hit alternates and targets of opportunity. Six B-29's are lost in the day's operations, including one that lands in the Soviet Union and 27 Japanese fighters are claimed shot down. (This mission turns out to be the XX BC's largest of the war.)

58th Bomb Wing: Thirteen 58th Bomb Wing B-29's unable to attack the primary target in Japan attack Shanghai and other alternate targets of opportunity. Sixty-one of 109 58th Bomb Wing B-29's dispatched from Chengtu, China attack an aircraft factory at Omura with 199 tons of bombs. Six B-29's are lost in the day's operation, including one that lands in the Soviet Union. This mission turns out to be the XX Bomber Command's largest of the war. 40th BG: 42-6275 "Snafuper Bomber" Bail out over China - Cowden Crew 1 KIA 42-6290 "Wempy's Blitzburger" Runway collision at Lianshan, White Crew 462nd BG: 42-6278 Crashed in China Sea, Joseph P. Killebrew Crew Joseph P. Killebrew, Captain, U.S. Army Air Forces, 0-433537 770th Bomber Squadron Entered the Service from Tennessee. Died November 21, 1944. Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart 42-93848 MACR 9864 Capt. McMillan Crew, Shot down by fighter, 4 Saved, 1 POW, 3 KIA by ground fire,- 3 executed. 444th BG: 42-6321 "This Is It", Dunn Crew, 4 KIA, 7 Saved. 42-65204 Crashed landing near Ankang, China, Hutchinson Crew, 1 KIA 468th BG: 42-6358 "Ding How" Interned Soviet Union, MACR 9865. (Diverted to Vladivostok, last of 3 intact B-29's copied by Soviets for their TU-4 "Bull" bomber. Crew later allowed to escape through Iran.) 42-6362 Crashed on take off - Maisch Crew, 10 KIA, 1 Saved. Burma: Ten Tenth Air Force B-25's attack bridges at Bawgyo and Hsipaw, 37 Tenth Air Force P-47's attack troops, defensive positions and supplies at five locations, 28 P-47's support Allied ground forces around Bhamo and Pinwe and 15 P-47's attack targets of opportunity while sweeping the road between Kyaukme and Namyao. China: Forty-two Fourteenth Air Force fighter bombers attack fuel dumps and the town area at Ishan and road and rail traffic and targets of opportunity around Chiuchiang, Foochow, Wanling (Burma) and several other locales. A 426th Night Fighter Squadron P-61 crew downs a twin engine bomber near Chengtu Airdrome (58th Bomb Wing Base) at 2000 hours and another P-61 crew probably downs another twin engine bomber an hour later in the same area. A 40th Bomb Group B-29 is damaged in the Japanese attack. 42-6303 "Typhoon McGoon III" Maj. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer, the US China Theater commander, pledges maximum air support to an effort to defend Kunming against a major IJA ground offensive. 73rd Bomb Wing: The initial 73rd Bomb Wing B-29 mission to Japan is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan, fifth day. Saipan: A Saipan based F-13 of the 20th Air Force's 3rd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron is downed while photographing targets in the Nagoya area. 42-24586 3rd PRS, Pentecost Crew, 11 MIA Ned Pentecost, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces, 0-659175 3rd Photographic Squadron Entered the Service from Tennessee. Died November 21, 1944 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

22 November 1944 (page 500)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

23 November 1944 (page 501)

MARIANAS
The initial combat mission against Japan by the 73rd BW is again grounded by bad weather over Saipan.

24 November 1944 (page 502)

JAPAN
Of 111 73rd BW B-29s dispatched on the XXI BC maiden attack against targets in Japan, 24 attack the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo, 59 attack port facilities and urban areas in Tokyo, five attack targets of last resort, 17 abort on their way to the target, and six are unable to release their bombs owing to a variety of mechanical problems. (The mission is led by 73rd BW Commanding General, BGen Emmett O'Donnell Jr., piloting DAUNTLESS DOTTY, copiloted by Major Robert K. Morgan, formerly the pilot of the famed B-17, MEMPHIS BELLE).

Several 3rd Photo Recon Sq. F-13s support the attack by confusing Japanese radars. One B-29 crashes into the sea off Honshu after being rammed by a Japanese fighter, shearing off it's elevator and right horizontal stabilizer (the first XXI BC B-29 lost to action against the Japanese); and another ditches after running out of fuel; B-29 gunners claim 7 aircraft downed. Also, 8 B-29's are damaged by ground fire and 3 others are damaged by fire from other B-29's. Personnel losses are 1 killed, 11 missing and four wounded.

73rd BW B-29s Lost: 42-24622 A-26, "Lucky Irish" Wagner crew, 42-24679 V-48, Tudor crew, ditched successfully. Saipan: A 318th Fighter Group P-47 pilot downs a Ki-45 near Saipan at 0930 hours.

	Lee Florence's Diary: "Saipan Nov.24, 1944 Tokyo Mission Returned short of target. Engine failure."	Ray Brashear's Navigator's Notes: "After every one of our thirty five missions our navigator would immediately recap the trip on a small 3X5note pad. Each trip we made was numbered and included the date, target, altitude, type of mission, take off and landing times, flight time, cumulated time. type and strength of enemy opposition and other revent remarks. Some of them are quite interesting. Demo = demolition bombs. Mission 1: 11/24/44 Tokyo (357) Day Demo 30,000 0630--2045 14:15 Flack---meagre Fighters-----30 No attacks on our plane First Tokyo Mission Sq. Formation Willie did a swell job on our bomb door trouble

25 November 1944 (page 502)

No actions reported.

26 November 1944 (page 503)

No actions reported.

Lee Florence's Diary: "Saipan Nov. 26, 1944 Briefing for Tokyo Nakajima Engine Plant"

27 November 1944 (page 504)

JAPAN
Of 81 73rd Very Heavy Bombardment Wing B-29's dispatched from the Marianas against two Tokyo area aircraft plants, 19 abort, 49 attack cloud-obscured port facilities and urban areas (secondaries) with the aid of radar; seven B-29s attack Hamamatsu (target of opportunity); and six attack targets of last resort. Results are negligible and one B-29 is lost with its entire crew.

73rd BW: Of 81 73rd Bomb Wing B-29's dispatched from the Marianas against two Tokyo area aircraft plants, 19 abort, 49 attack cloud obscured port facilities and city areas (secondary) with the air of radar. Seven B-29's attack Hamamatsu (target of opportunity) and six attack targets of last resort. Results are negligible and one B-29 is lost with its entire crew. Aircraft lost: 42-24662 Z-2, Irvin crew #182. Pilot & AC: Capt. Joseph R. Irvin Copilot: 2/Lt. Robert R. Glore Bombardier: 2/Lt. William L. Moores Navigator: 2/Lt. Clay D. Shannon Flt. Eng.: 2/Lt. Myron C. Bjerva Radio: Sgt. Alferd Morton Ring Gun: Cpl. Clifford M. Fleming Rt. Gun: Sgt. Richard L. Connell L. Gun: Sgt Verdal Brown Radar: Stg. Everett L. Abernathy Tail Gun: Sgt Marion E. Berry (Observer: Maj. Gerald Mosier) Ground Crew: M/Sgt. Howard W. Matz, Crew Chief; Sgt. Marion R. Brady, Jr. And Cpl. Mervin E. Toalson Notes--This Crew Arrived On Saipan In Early Nov. 1944. On The 27 Nov. over Tokyo, they were badly shot up and headed for home. Captain Fields' crew was in contact with them but eventually lost contact. They were not heard from again. Also on board as an observer was Maj. Gerald Mosier. All were listed as missing in action and declared dead at the end of the war. Source: 500th BG Historian.

MARIANAS
At 0005 hours, two Japanese G4Ms based at Iwo Jima attack the B-29 base at Saipan Isely Field. One 499th BG B-29 is destroyed and eleven are damaged.

At 1210 hours, 17 Japanese A6Ms based on Iwo Jima attack the same target. Nearly all the attacking aircraft are downed by AA or defensive fighters, but 3 B-29s are destroyed or damaged beyond repair.

Saipan: Single aircraft destroyed in the first attack: 42-24659 V-1 Three aircraft destroyed in the second attack: 42-24599 A-9 42-63428 T-10 42-63438 V-42 318th Fighter Group P-47's pilots down two A6M's near Saipan between 1215 and 1322 hours, and two A6M's near Pagan Island at 1400 hours.

58th Bomb Wing: 58 of 60 58th BW B-29's dispatched from the Calcutta area bases attack rail yards at Bangkok, 55 hit the primary target, while three B-29's attack targets of opportunity: one bombed Mergui, the secondary target; one bombed Taungup, the last resort target; and one hit a target of opportunity northeast of the primary. Two planes, one from the 444th and one from the 462nd, aborted for mechanical reasons. One B-29 is lost: 42-24452 40th BG, Blackwell Crew, 11 MIA. Carl E. Blackwell, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces, 0-663470 45th Bomber Squadron, 40th Bomber Group Entered the Service from Oklahoma, Died July 26, 1946 Missing in Action or Buried at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart Fellow crew members: Vern Hunnell John Gettler William Webster Robert Fancher William Gabriel Robert McCormick D.E. Powers Bernard Roth William Stone Carson Cole One B-29 gravely damaged: 42-6295 40th BG, shot up at Bangkok, major repairs at Chittagon and Chakulia, never returned to combat service.

	Lee Florence's Diary: "Saipan Nov. 27, 1944 0300 Two Jap twin engine bombers strafed field and demolished our plane. Neither enemy was seen destroyed. Alert lasted one hour." (1995 Comments: "Our plane was Model # B-29-15 Serial # 42-63438 mfgd by Bell, Marietta. We had called the plane "Hell's Bell. Plane was fully loaded with fuel, bombs, all our gear and flight clothing.") "Nov. 27, 1944 1215 Another enemy raid on our field, and three B-29s were destroyed. Raid was accomplished with Jap pursuit planes-'Zekes'. One was seen to crash on field, and another crashed in flames 100 yds from barracks." (1995 comments: "After trying to get into someone else's fox hole, we decided we had better dig our own. I don't remember who else was involved, but we dug a hole big enough for three, and put a roof over it to protect from falling shrapnel.")	Ray Brashear: (Lee: If I remember correctly we were to go on the 27 Nov raid, but when your plane blew up a piece of burning fuel cell landed on our upper turret and nose section and put us out of commission. It was several days before our plane was ready to fly again. Ray)

28 November 1944 (pg 505)

No actions reported.

29 November 1944

JAPAN
During the night of 29-30 November, 24 of 29 73rd BW B-29s attack port areas and industrial targets around Tokyo with the aid of radar; and 2 B-29s attack targets of last resort in Namazu and Yokohama. Results are negligible, and 1 B-29 is lost.

Aircraft lost: 42-65218 Z44, Hanson crew, all KIA Pilot Ac: Maj. Harold M. Hanson Copilot: 2/Lt. Robert T. Battell Bombardier: 1/Lt. Kenneth F. Hodson Flt. Eng: 1/Lt. Eugene B. Renalds Navigator: 1/Lt. Charles Van Amburg Radio: L. Gun: Sgt. Lawrence E. Lindgram R. Gun: T/Sgt. George W. Hunt Ring Gun: Sgt. Paul E. Bussell Radar: Sgt. George J. Burns Tail Gun: Ground Crew: M/Sgt. Bernard R. Purcell (Crew Chief), Sgt. Frank Slagle, Sgt. John S. Gregson, And Sgt. John C. Coufal. Notes: This aircraft was lost on 11/29/44 on it's second mission with the Hanson crew, who were on their first. They were on a nuisance raid to Tokyo (a plane every 15 minutes ?). they disappeared without a trace. Source: 500th BG Historian

Lee Florence's Diary: "Nov. 29th, 1944 0115 Two hour air raid alert, evidently caused by high flying Jap observation plane. No planes downed." (Later comments: "We don't have a plane, so our main activity is dodging the Japanese bombs ... Used the foxhole.")

30 November 1944 (pg 506-507) No actions reported

1944: Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 1945 1st ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep 1945 2nd ½: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep