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  B-29-30-BW "Deacon's Disciples" Serial Number 42-24492  
USAAF
20th AF
40th BG
25th BS

Pilot  1st Lt William P. Donelan, O-737552 (MIA / KIA) Ottumwa, Iowa
Co-Pilot  2nd Lt. Dale E. Ellis, O-776257 (survived)
MIA  May 14, 1945
MACR  14412

Aircraft History
Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 4153. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-30-BW Superfortress serial number 42-24492. Ferried overseas to North Field on Guam Island.

Wartime History
Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 40th Bombardment Group (40th BG), 25th Bombardment Squadron (25th BS). Nicknamed "Deacon's Disciples". When lost engines R-3350-23A serial numbers unknown. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns makers and serial numbers unknown.

Mission History
On May 14, 1945 took off from West Field on Tinian Island piloted by 1st Lt William P. Donelan armed with incendiary bombs on a bombing mission (Mission 174) against the urban area north of Nagoya in Japan. The formation included 472 B-29s. A total of eleven bombers were lost including this aircraft. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). This B-29 was believed to have crashed into the sea.

Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. Donelan on court 2.

Donelan earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously.

References
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - William P. Donelan
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-30-BW Superfortress 42-24492
"24492 (40th BG, 25th BS) ditched S of Iwo Jima May 14, 1945 while on mission to Nagoya, Japan. MACR 14412. 10 crew killed, 1 survived and was rescued.
Missing Air Crew Report 14412 (MACR 14412) created March 17, 1945 [sic, May 17, 1945]
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William P. Donelan
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -
American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) -
FindAGrave - 1Lt William Patrick Donelan (photos, courts of the missing)
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FindAGrave -
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Last Updated
May 24, 2022

 

Tech Info
B-29

MIA
MIA
1 Missing
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