| Recent Address: | 10227 Londonderry, Houston, TX 77043 |
| Family Info: | Parents: Walter and Hazel; Siblings: J. Graham, Betty; Children: Stephen, Curtis, Jack, William, Charles, Susan. |
| Hometown: | Moss Point, MS |
| Date Entered Service: | October 28, 1942 |
| Service Number: | A0931847 |
| Bomb Group: | 462nd |
| Squadron: | 770th |
| Location of Unit: | Tinian, Marianas (May, 1945) |
| Missions Flown: | 20 |
| Targets: | Tokyo, Yokahama, Osaka, Kobe, Amagasaki, Omuta, Okayama, Kure, Takamatsu, Chiba, Ishinomaki, Fukui, Aomori, Hachiogi, Saga, Fukuyama, Hiroshima POW camp #1 |
| Awards: | Western Pacific Battle Star, Eastern Mandates, Air Offensive Japan, Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, American Campaign, Distinguished Unit Citation, WWII Victory Medal. |
| Service Schools: | Pilot training August 1944; B-17 training November 1944; B-29 training April 1945 |
| MOS: | MOS 1024-Pilot, Four-Engine Aircraft, MOS 1093-Pilot B-29 VHB |
| Rank Upon Discharge: | 1st Lt. |
| Crew Type: | Flight crew |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: | 42-24590 Celestial Princess, 42-24786 Assid Test, 42-63488 (unnamed), 42-63473 (unnamed), 42-65329 (unnamed), 44-61560 (unnamed), 44-61515 (unnamed), 42-63454 Thunder Bird, 44-61650 (unnamed), 42-63472 (unnamed), 44-87636 (unnamed) |
| Post WWII Service: | Reserve only |
| Post WWII Civilian Occupation(s): | Oil company geologist |
| Thoughts About the 58th: | Feel honored to have been able to serve, and particularly with the young men on our crews. (Half* of them were not old enough to vote). They were: Walter W. Cromer--Airplane Commander, *Jerome F. Medford--Navigator, Charles J. Kimmitt--Bombardier, Charles W. Wakefield--Radar Operator, Everett E. Merriman--Flight Engineer, *James C. Hall.--Radio Operator, Colgate S. Prentice--Central Fire Control, *Brainard G. Beausoliel--Left Gunner, John W. Cluck--Right Gunner, *Henry T. Casper--Tail Gunner |
| Comments: | After pilot training, B-17 training and B-29 training (as a crew) we were sent to Kearney, Nebraska, as crew number FQ-112-AL-49. There we were issued overseas equipment including new B-29 airplane No. 44-70076. We flew the airplane to Mather Field, California, and on to Tinian, Marianas via Hawaii, Kwajolen and Saipan. At Tinian we were assigned to 770th Sq., 462nd BG. Our new airplane was given to a seasoned crew and several of us gained combat experience with other crews. After several missions we were reunited and flew together for the rest of the war. After the surrender we flew 'THUNDER BIRD' (263454) back to California loaded with 'high point' men. |
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58th Bomb Wing Veterans Index |  |
