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  B-29B-35-BA "Maniuwa" Serial Number 42-63678  
USAAF
20th AF
315th BW
502nd BG
402nd BS

Aircraft Commander  Captain Henry G. Dillingham, O-389195 (MIA / KIA, BR) Hawaii
Pilot  2nd Lt. James D. McGlynn, O-835680 (MIA / KIA, BR) Lockport, NY
Navigator  1st Lt. Willis S. Orner, O-811728 (MIA / KIA, BR) Morristown, PA
Bombardier  1st Lt. Theodore W. Reekstin, O-696035 (MIA / KIA, BR) Alpana, MI
RDOM  1st Lt. Edward R. Morrow Jr., O-700034 (MIA / KIA, BR) Lakewood, OH
FE  SSgt Charles J. Bordino, 12029775 (MIA / KIA, BR) Niagra Falls, NY
ROM  SSgt Harvey J. Dempsey, 16092124 (MIA / KIA, BR) Milwaukee, WI
Left Wasit Gunner  SSgt John P. Cary, 37161481 (MIA / KIA, BR) Minneapolis, MN
Right Wasit Gunner  Sgt Joseph T. H. Leblanc, 201018665 (MIA / KIA, BR) North Attleboro, MA
Tail Gunner  Sgt John. F. Greene, 18241825 (MIA / KIA, BR) Fort Worth, TX
Crashed  July 25, 1945
MACR  14793

Pilot History
Pilot Henry G. Dillingham was the son of Walter H. Dillingham, a noted pilot on Oahu in the 1930s and grandson of Benjamin F. Dillingham who founded the OR&L which evolved into Hawaiian Dredging Company and later the Dillingham Corporation. During 1948 Mokuleia Field was renamed "Dillingham AFB" in honor of Captain Henry G. Dillingham.

Aircraft History
Built by Bell-Atlanta. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29B-35-BA Superfortress Serial Number 42-63678.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 315th Bombardment Wing (315th BW), 502nd Bombardment Group (502nd BG), 402th Bombardment Squadron (402th BS). Nicknamed "Maniuwa".

Mission History
On July 25, 1945 took off from Northwest Field on Guam piloted by Captain Henry G. Dillingham armed with 500 pound bombs as one of 75 B-29s on a night bombing mission (Mission 291) against the Mitsubishi Oil Refinery at the Hayama Petroleum Center near Kawasaki bombing from an altitude of 16,500' to 18,000' with the formation dropping 650 tons of bombs on the target that destroyed 33% of the storage tanks and other facilities. Over the target, this B-29 was caught in search lights and suffers a direct hit by anti-aircraft fire while approaching the target.

Wreckage
This B-29 crashed into the Nippon Casting Company factory at No. 3, 2 chome, Shiraishi-cho in Kawasaki.

Recovery of Remains
Postwar, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to Hawaii for permanent burial.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. The crew was buried at Honolulu Cemetery (Punchbowl). Dillingham Plot D Row 0 Grave 432. Dempsey, Cary and McGlynn at Plot D Row 0 Grave 495. Orner at Plot D Row 0 Grave 482. Reekstin at Plot D Row 0 Grave 489. Morrow at Plot D Row 0 Grave 465. Green at Plot D Row 0 Grave 444.

Reekstin also has a memorial marker at Evergreen Cemetery in Alpena, PA at Section: 28, Lot 96/9.

Relatives
Penelope Patricia Dempsey Yazzie (daughter of Harvey J. Dempsey)

References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29B-35-BA Superfortress 42-63678
"63678 (315th BW, 502nd BG, 402nd BS "Maniuwa") shot won by AAA and crashed Kawasaki, Japan Jul 25, 1945. MACR 14793. 10 KIA."
FindAGrave - Capt Henry Gaylord Dillingham (photos, grave photo)
FindAGrave - James D. McGlynn (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Willis S Orner (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Theodore W Reekstin (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Lieut Theodore William Reekstin (memorial marker photo)
FindAGrave - 1Lt Edward R Morrow, Jr (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Charles J. Bordino (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Harvey J “Pat” Dempsey, Jr (photo, grave photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt John P Cary (grave photo)
FindAGrave - John P Cary (memorial photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt Joseph T H LeBlanc (grave photo)
FindAGrave - Sgt John F Greene (grave photo)
American WWII Orphans Network (AWON) - SSgt Harvey J. Dempsey

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Last Updated
May 4, 2022

 

Tech Info
B-29

POW / MIA
MIA
10 Missing
Resolved
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