Internment services were held for 9 members of the B-29, Haley's Comet,  on May 10, 1949 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery Section E 62.

Captain Walter S. McDonnell, Pilot

1/Lt David C. Williams, Copilot

1/Lt William Pleus, Bombardier

2/Lt Joseph Bena, Navigator

2/Lt Graydon V. Hardy, Flight Engineer

S/Sgt Cecil V. Hassell, Radio Operator

Sgt James F. Campbell, Gunner

Sgt Albert W. Preisser, Gunner

S/Sgt John J. Connell, CFC

Lt. Vere D. Carpenter, Radar Operator   POW

Sgt Clint F. Lodovici, Tailgunner     POW

The B-29, “Haley’s Comet”, took off from Saipan to bomb the Nakajima Aircraft Factory in Musashino, a western suburb of Tokyo. Poor weather, intense flak and fighters attack the formation. This B-29 was hit by flak and fighters and fell behind in the formation with its bomb bay on fire. It was continually attacked by fighters until “Haleys Comet” was rammed by a Japanese fighter. The B-29 crashed Ishino, Shisui Town, Inba County, Chiba Prefecture. Lt Carpenter and Sgt Lodovici parachuted, were captured and survived the Omori POW Camp.

This B-29 Superfortress, 42-63513, “Ramp Queen,” and crew were assigned to the 877^th Squadron of the 499^th Bomb Group.  On May 26, 1945, while participating in one of the largest bombing missions over Tokyo, in the moonlight, the aircraft was shot down off the coast of Nara by a Japanese fighter stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base. On October 24, 1949 six crewmembers were buried in Section E Site 190-191 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery. The Radio Operator, Sgt Paul H. Norris was buried at Site 192 on the same day.

1/Lt Burrell, Edward K, Pilot       Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Fox, William L, Engineer    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

F/O Knuteson, John W, Navigator    Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/Lt Seeley, Andrew J, Bombardier   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

2/Lt Williamson, Richard Jr, Copilot   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

Pvt Morelli, Louis J, Gunner      Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

Sgt Norris, Paul H. Radio Operator   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

Capt Thomas, Francis J. Radar Operator

Sgt Olson, Warren L. Fire Control

Cpl Whalen, Edward P. Jr, Gunner

Cpl Forystek, Stanley, Gunner   Fort Snelling National Cemetery

Japanese reporting indicates that Cpl Forystek and Sgt Olson were taken to the military Police Headquarters both having burns. Cpl Forystek died on May 27, 1945 and Sgt Olson on June 5, 1945 by suicide with poison shortly after interrogation by the military police commander in a medical treatment room of the GHQ Criminal Affairs Bureau. Near the end of June eight unidentified bodies washed ashore near the crash site and were buried at the scene.

This B-29 Superfortress, 42-65327, “Princess Eileen IV,” and crew were assigned to the 678^th Squadron of the 444^th Bomb Group.  On May 25, 1945 the aircraft crashed near Mt. Yamane Toyosato village with the target for the mission being Tokyo City. On October 24, 1949 two members of the crew, Sgt Pittaro and Sgt Bickell, were buried with the crew of “Ramp Queen” in Section E Plot 190-191 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

 Capt Siler, John E, Pilot             KIA

Lt Streink, William B, Copilot

Lt Newcomb, John H, Navigator

Lt Orzilli, Roger J, Bombardier

Lt Fuentes, Manuel, Engineer      Honolulu Memorial Cemetery

S/Sgt Pittaro, Vincent F, Radar Operator   Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Arthur G. Bickell, Gunner        Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery   

S/Sgt Wolheim, Howard, Radio Operator    Long Island Nat’l Cemetery

S/Sgt Bloodgood, Daniel, Central Fire Control

S/Sgt Hanigan, Joseph J, Gunner   Honolulu Memorial Cemetery

S/Sgt Press, Donald R, Tailgunner

2/Lt McEachern, John J, Passenger  

Japanese records indicate Lt. Streink, Lt. Newcomb, Lt. Orzilli, Sgt Bloodgood and Lt. McEachern were taken to the military police headquarters. S/Sgt Press fled the scene up in the mountains. However on June 10 two women identified him to the military police.

Major Wilbur E, Hurlbutt, Pilot 

2/Lt Felix P. Omillan, Copilot

1/Lt Glendon M. Aitken, Bombardier

1/Lt Glenn C, Truesdell, Flight Engineer 

1/Lt Edward H. Stoehr, Navigator

S/Sgt Paul E, Dreyer, Radar Operator

Sgt Joseph P. Nighan, Radio Operator

Sgt Karl Hunt, Gunner

Sgt Frank J, Yanik, Gunner

Corporal Richard P,  Steinberg, Gunner

Lt Col Marcus A, Mullen, Observer

Fifty seven of ninety seven 73rd BW B-29's dispatched to bomb port facilities and urban areas of Nagoya with incendiary bombs; and 21 attack alternate targets. Japanese fighters fly 300+ attacks on the bombers and 5 B-29's are lost. Gunners claim 14-14-20 Japanese aircraft.

SgtThomas H. Hedges – POW – He was moved to Osaka Kempei Tai Headquarters, then to Tokyo Kempei and imprisoned in Omori POW Camp.

A Japanese Report

After the Nagoya city bombing which becomes first anti- urban district incendiary bomb air raid, 15:14 around flying Tsubame of the resident in Komaki army 55th squadron (Daita actual lieutenant junior grade operation) direct attack against the third engine and between the nose. To become operation impossible, the Aichi prefecture east Kamo Gun Matsudaira village fascine [me] (reality: Aichi prefecture Toyota checks flat fascine [me]) fall. Daita lieutenant junior grade death in battle.

The B-29, Z Square 7, 42-63486, was assigned to the 881^st Squadron, 500^th Bomb Group, 73^rd Wing. They were shot down in Tokyo Bay on May 24, 1945 with one survivor. The crew was buried October 4, 1949 in Section E 179 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

1/Lt Eugene M. Thomas, Jr, Pilot

2/Lt Francis X. Glacken, Copilot

1/Lt William H Hain, Radar Operator

2/Lt Norman B. Bassett, Navigator

M/Sgt Richard C. Armstrong, CFC

T/Sgt Bishop K. Mitchell, Jr,Radio Operator

S/Sgt Sam H Bradford, Flight Engineer

Sgt George P. Demers, Gunner 

Sgt Louis A. Dorio, Tailgunner

Sgt John F. Slater, Gunner

1/Lt Robert G. Phillips, Bombardier

Shortly after 4AM and releasing their bombs on the target, the plane was hit with flak on the right wing. Unable to extinguish the fire they were going to the rescue submarine when the plane was hit with flak again in the rear that destroyed all the controls including the intercom. Lt Thomas, Lt. Glacken and S/Sgt Sam Bradford parachuted from the front hatch. It is believed T/Sgt Mitchell and Lt Bassett parachuted from the open bomb bay. Lt Phillips was the last man to leave the front of the plane and the only survivor. Just seconds after he parachuted the plane exploded in mid-air and fell into Tokyo Bay burning. It stayed on top of the water for about 10 minutes before slipping beneath the waves of Tokyo Bay. The status of the crewmen in the rear of the plane is unknown due to the loss of the intercom.

The B-29 “In The Mood” 42-24826, assigned to the 483^rd Squadron, 505^th Bomb Group, was shot down on May 26, 1945 and most of the crew was buried in Section E 20, Zachary Taylor National Cemetery on February 11, 1949. They were held at the USAF Mausoleum-Yokohama No. 1 until interred in their final resting place at the National Cemetery in Louisville, Ky.

1/Lt Paul W. Monahan, Copilot

M/Sgt John B. Wright, Flight Engineer

T/Sgt Halden S. Adrion, CFC

Sgt Charles Couchman, Radio Operator – POW at Omori

Sgt Harold S. Leavitt, Radar Operator –  POW at Omori

Sgt Glidden C. Lurvey, Gunner– POW at Omori

Sgt John MacGuire, Tailgunner – POW at Omori

2/Lt Francis F. Jensen,  Gunner -  POW location

"Another mission, and it was a good one. Didn't see much at all except a bunch of searchlights and a lot of fires. Tokyo just isn't what it used to be although quite a few of the guys were shot up."

But Sandy said about two nights later:

"Back to Tokyo again. It certainly was different from the night before. Don't know if they found out we were coming or what but they certainly were ready. They really were pouring up the old fire at us. It's been three or four missions since we've seen any like it. It looked like a solid sheet when we started in. I'm telling you, Ma, everyone in that plane was scared. Sounds as though we had switched dates! But both missions turned out pretty bad for a lot of the crews."

(Mission 183) During the night of 25-26 May, 464 B-29's dispatched from the XXI BC attack Tokyo urban areas immediately south of the Imperial Palace and just north of that bombed on 23-24 May with 3262 tons of incendiary bombs which destroyed financial, commercial and governmental districts as well as factories and homes; six B-29's attack other targets. The AAF claims 19 Japanese fighters. Twenty-six B-29's are lost (the largest loss of B-29's and crews in a single day).

From a Japanese Report:

In Tokyo urban district air raid where becomes 23rd combat mission, alternating with the original left crew, Jensen lieutenant junior grade of 505th bombardment group gunnery officer embarking, In the Mood which participated received anti-aircraft shell 2 shot direct bomb hits, the Saitama prefecture Kawaguchi city good fortune 藏 fell in the Nitta rice field. 6 corpses who exclude 5 people who succeed in parachute escaping were collected from actual place, Kawaguchi city in dense 藏 institute of the line field were cremated were enshrined cheaply.

It became June 10th serious condition at the eastern military policeman party headquarters prison and the medicine 4 people who exclude Jensen lieutenant junior grade who kills after the war returned home

This B-29 Superfortress, 42-24828, “Lil Spook,” and crew were assigned to the 484^th Squadron of the 505^th Bomb Group. On May 26, 1945, the aircraft was lost over Tokyo while participating in one of the largest air operations in the history of the world. Japanese records indicate that the crewmen were buried in the Koishikawa Army Cemetery after removal from the wreckage. Eleven of the twelve crewmen were buried in Section E Site 175-177 on October 13, 1949 at the Zachary Taylor National Cemetery.

1/Lt Helfert, William F, Pilot

1/Lt Bickford, Russell E, Copilot                                   

Sgt Campbell, Ivan H, Radio Operator                          

Capt Petersen, Robert L, Observer                               

Sgt Coz, Edward G, Tailgunner                                      

Sgt Neely, Joseph H Jr, Central Fire Control                                    

Sgt Pearce, Herbert C, Left Gunner                              

F/O Purcell, John E, Navigator                                       

S/Sgt Van Cleve, Harold A, Engineer                            

2/Lt Weakley, Thomas B, Bombardier                          

Sgt McQuade, William J, Right Gunner    .

2/Lt Brimeyer, Joseph L, Radar Operator     KIA

This B-26, Marauder, crashed in Brazil enroute to the war in Europe.  The plane and crew were probably assigned to the 320^th Bomb Group. They were buried on May 6, 1948 in Section E 1 at the Zachary Taylor Nat’l Cemetery.

1/Lt Theodore T. Handley, Pilot

2/Lt Raymond J. Carson, Copilot

F/O James E. Johnson, Jr, Navigator

Cpl George W. Bodin, Radio-Gunner

S/Sgt Wesley W. Fulton, Engineer-Gunner – Unknown Burial Location

On an overcast afternoon in January 1945, the B-26 crashed on Vakayri Mountain near Belem.