The B-29 42-6301, assigned to the 25^th Squadron, 40^th Bomb Group, crashed west of Hsinching, China, on August 20, 1944. The crew was buried in Section E 66-68 on May 17, 1949. There were no survivors.

Sixty-one of seventy-five B-29's of the 58th BW dispatched from Chengtu bomb the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata during the day with 96 tons of bombs; six B-29's attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity. B-29's claim 17 Japanese aircraft shot down. (Fourteen B-29's are lost in combat or due to operational accidents, including one from which the crew bails out over Soviet Territory. Two of the B-29's lost over Yawata are downed as a result of intentional ramming by a Ki-45. Among the many airmen lost is Col. Richard H. Carmichael, the 462nd BG commanding officer.)

During the night of 20-21 August, ten of 13 B-29's taking off late from Chengtu attack the Yawata Iron Works; five attack secondary targets.

The B-29 42-6368, Calamity Sue, was assigned to the 794th Squadron, 468^th Bomb Group. It was downed on August 20, 1944 and the crew buried August 23, 1949 in Section E 91-92 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

Captain Ornell J Stauffer, Pilot

Sgt Michael J,  Karlovich, Gunner

Raymond J, Keelan, Radar Operator

S/Sgt Clinton A, Martin, CFC

T/Sgt Walter A. Dansby, Radio Operator - POW

2/Lt Irving S. Newman, Navigator - POW

2/Lt Austin C. Shot, Flight Engineer - POW

2/Lt Ben R. Bloom, Bombardier – Burial at an unknown location

T/Sgt Robert W. Bonner, Tailgunner – Burial at an unknown location

Sgt James A. O’Brien, Gunner – Burial at an unknown location

1/Lt Jimmie Wine, Copilot – POW – Buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of The Pacific

A Japanese Report

2nd attack to the Yawata make 鐵 place which designates the mainland China Chengdu as the base. At the Yawata city sky, the fragment of B29#42-6334 which dashes to the 屠 dragon of army flight fourth squadron Nobe Sigeo sergeant operation to hit, fall to the Yawata city time tail town. As for NEWMAN second lieutenant, SHOT second lieutenant and DANSBY technical sergeant in the defensive General Headquarters of Tokyo by way of the western army area headquarters sending 致, accommodation to main place of 1944 December 19 Nitto capital 俘 虜 internment camp.

WINE lieutenant junior grade, on the 29th, invades the Ashiya airport. With the precaution soldier and the pistol of the possession after the gun battle, it committed suicide with last 1 departure.

   The B-29 42-6286, “Praying Mantis”, assigned to the 677^th Squadron, 444^th Bomb Group crashed on August 20, 1944. The crew was buried on August 29, 1949 in Section E 112 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.              

Major Hamilton H Dyer, Jr, Aircraft Commander

1/Lt Hunter T, Railey, Copilot

2/Lt Roland L Albert, Navigator

2.Lt Douglas Salkin,  Bombardier

T/Sgt Edward D, Crimmins, Flight Engineer

S/Sgt Walter C. Ciochon, Radio Operator

S/Sgt Edward C. Congro, Tailgunner

S/Sgt Michael T,  Mignogna, Gunner

Sgt Erwin H,  Mitchell, CFC

Sgt Lowell H Morris, Gunner

Sgt Raymond W, Perchorowicz, Radar Operator

Sixty-one of seventy-five B-29's of the 58th BW dispatched from Chengtu bomb the Imperial Iron and Steel Works at Yawata during the day with 96 tons of bombs; six B-29's attack secondary targets and targets of opportunity. B-29's claim 17 Japanese aircraft shot down. (Fourteen B-29's are lost in combat or due to operational accidents, including one from which the crew bails out over Soviet Territory. Two of the B-29's lost over Yawata are downed as a result of intentional ramming by a Ki-45. Among the many airmen lost is Col. Richard H. Carmichael, the 462nd BG commanding officer. 

During the night of 20-21 August, ten of 13 B-29's taking off late from Chengtu attack the Yawata Iron Works; five attack secondary targets.

The remains of 42-6286 have just been found near Chengtu, China!

A Chinese gentleman first mentioned it to our e-mail group on 29 Oct 99 after he discovered it during a mountain trek. After more interest in this aircraft, Bernard Yang returned a year or two later for an 11 day expedition to identify it.

This is from Tom Britton, to Scotty McCall, then to Sparky Corradina:

"On return the formation was ordered to disperse and later radio direction finding calls were received from the aircraft by the XX BC Ground Radio Station stating that weather was deteriating and that they were lost, flying over an undercase and low on fuel. They subsequently crashed in the Shi-Ling Mountain near Cheng-du, China.

"The wreck was located in 2000 and was visited by a expedition of a local mountain climbing club organized by Mr. Bernard Yang who lives in Cheng-du. ... Apparently the site has never been visited and is located at 13,000 ft and takes 5 days by mule back to reach ...