| Recent Address: |
403 Fifth St., S.W., State Center, IA 50247-2021 |
| E-mail Address: |
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| Family Info: |
Parents: William and Nellie; Wife: Barbara; Children: Steven, Bruce. |
| Hometown: |
Los Angeles, CA |
| Date Entered Service: |
August 22, 1942 |
| Service Number: |
39253128 |
| Bomb Group: |
444th |
| Squadron: |
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| Squadron: |
678th |
| Location of Unit: |
Great Bend, KS (1943) |
| Missions Flown: |
28+ |
| Hump Missions: |
20+ |
| Targets: |
Yawata, Bangkok |
| Awards: |
Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters, 4 Bronze Battle Stars, China Campaign Medal, Air Offensive Japan Campaign Medal, India-Burma Air Combat Campaign Medal, Distinguished Flying Cross, Good Conduct Medal, WWII Victory Medal awarded Nov. 18, 1947 at State Center, IA |
| Service Schools: |
Airplane Mechanic Feb 1943; Electrical Apr 1943; B-29 Armor Jul 1943 |
| MOS: |
MOS 685-Airplane Electrical Mechanic, Specialist, Left Gunner, B-29 Aircraft |
| Rank Upon Discharge: |
S/Sgt |
| Crew Type: |
Flight crew |
| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
#391 'The Uninvited' - (crashed 6/5/44), 42-24507 Bachelor Quarters |
| Where You a POW?: |
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| POW Location: |
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| Where You a Interned?: |
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| Internment Location: |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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| Date Discharged: |
June 26, 1945 |
| Post WWII Service: |
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| Post WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
Mechanic at Miller Chevrolet Dealership, State Center, IA; moved to Los Angeles, CA, and was employed at Lockheed Aircraft at Burbank, CA. This location was where I was inducted, even though my hometown was State Center, IA. |
| Thoughts About the 58th: |
I wanted to serve my country in whatever capacity I could. Every young person should serve at least two years. It teaches discipline, character and makes one a better person.
Our crew of eleven men were a very close knit group. As many as seven crew members have remained special friends and have renewed memories at the 58th Bomb Wing reunions. |
| Comments: |
On June 5th, 1944 we were on a mission when B-29 aircraft was running low on fuel. Pilot, Major Booth G. Malone, made a decision to exit aircraft. Every crew member jumped except one -- he went down with the aircraft and it burned in Chinese graveyard. All other crew members were strung out. I landed in a rice paddy after having much trouble opening my chute. One crew member landed in a tree. All of us walked a long time before arriving at headquarters, and then were interrogated at length. I credit our Pilot Major Booth Malone with keeping a cool head and saving our lives. |
