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| USAAF 20th AF 73rd BW 497th BG 870th BS    USAAF 1945 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Walter S. McDonell, O-789189 (MIA / KIA, BR) Duluth, MN Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. David C. Williams, Jr., O-683933 (MIA / KIA, BR) Sault St. Marie, MI Navigator 2nd Lt. Joseph Bena, Jr., O-703593 (MIA / KIA, BR) Conway, PA Bombardier 1st Lt. William Pleus, O-668763 (MIA / KIA, BR) Medford, WI Engineer 2nd Lt. Graydon V. Hardy, O-864485 (MIA, KIA) Scottsburg, IN Central Fire Control SSgt John J. Connell, 11082233 (MIA / KIA, BR) Salem, MA Asst Engineer Sgt Albert Preisser, 13038616 (MIA / KIA, BR) New Kensington, PA Radio/Gunner Sgt Cecil V. Hassell, 18047805 (MIA / KIA, BR) Corpus Christi, TX Gunner SSgt James F. Campbell, 18119275 (MIA / KIA, BR) Houston, TX Radar/Gunner S/Sgt Vere Daw Carpenter, 39194527 (POW, survived) Idaho Falls, ID Tail Gunner Sgt Olinto F. Lodovici, 6999883 (POW, survived) Monongahela, PA Crashed January 27, 1945 MACR 11558 Pilot History McDonell attended Duluth Denfeld High School class of 1937. Previously, he flew combat in B-24 Liberators. On July 7, 1943 he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on an anti-submarine sweep, attacking a surfaced submarine but was heavily damaged and returned to base without his navigator who was severely wounded. Aircraft History Built by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29 B-29-40-BW Superfortress serial number 42-24616. Ferried overseas to Isley Field on Saipan. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF) , 497th Bombardment Group (497th BG), 870th Bombardment Squadron (870th BS). Nicknamed "Haley's Comet" with the nose art of a nude women with brunette hair riding a flaming red comet. Later, stars and motion lines were added to the tail of the comet. On the left side of the nose was a scoreboard with bomb markings indicating missions flown and three Japanese rising sun flags indicating aircraft claimed by the gunners. Mission History On January 27, 1945 took off from Isley Field on Saipan pilot 1st Lt. Walter S. McDonnell on a bombing mission against Nakajima Aircraft Factory in Musashino west of Tokyo. Inbound to the target, the formation experienced poor weather. Over the target, the bombers faced intense anti-aircraft fire and fighters attacks. After the bombs were dropped, one bomb did not release and this B-29 was hit by machine gun fire from enemy fighters in the nose and cockpit area. Aboard, both pilots, navigator and bombardier were injured or killed. Two of the crew Lodovici and Carpenter managed to bail out and landed safely. This B-29 crashed at Imba Numa (marsh) near Shisui Town part of Inba County of Chiba Prefecture. Fates of the Crew Lodovici and Carpenter were both immediately captured and became Prisoners Of War (POW) and both survived captivity until the end of the Pacific War, Lodovici was interned at Omori POW Camp. Carpenter at Tokyo POW Camp (Shinjuku). After liberation, both were repatriated to the United States. Memorials The eight crew members killed on the day of the mission were officially declared dead January 27, 1945. After the recovery of the crew's remains the crew was initially buried at USAF Cemetery Yokohoma No 1, then transported to the United States for permanent burial. On May 10, 1945 the remains of the eight crew members were buried in a group burial at Zachary Taylor National Cemetery at plot E, grave 62. Hardy also has a memorial marker at Lexington Cemetery in Lexington, IN. Lodovici retired as a U.S. Air Force (USAF) master sergeant. He passed away on September 9, 1996. He is buried at Saint Fidelis Cemetery in Victoria, KS. Carpenter passed away on March 10, 1995 at age 72. He is buried at Washington Heights Memorial Park in South Ogden, UT. Relatives Dennis Lodovici (son of Olinto F. Lodovic) "My father was one of five brothers that all served in the military during WW2. I know he had pictures of the aircraft and members of his crew, also he was a tail gunner. After spending 30 years in the Air Force he retired and lived in Victoria Kansas and is buried there." Angelique R. Abeare-Welch (Great-Grand uncle) 1st Lt. David C. Williams Jr. KIA, Japan, WWII & the Crew of B-29 "Haley's Comet" References Some sources state this B-29 was rammed by Ki-45 Nick 4067 incorrectly. USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-40-BW Superfortress 42-24616 "24616 (497th BG) shot down by J1N1 and crashed at Ishino Chiba, Japan Jan 27, 1945. MACR 11558. 8 crew KIA, 2 bailed and became POW." Missing Air Crew Report 11558 (MACR 11558) created January 28, 1945 FindAGrave - Walter S McDonell (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT David C Williams Jr. (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 2LT Joseph Bena Jr. (group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT William Pleus (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Graydon V. Hardy (group burial photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Graydon V Hardy (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SSGT John J Connell (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SGT Albert Wilson Preisser (photo, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Cecil V Hassell (group burial photo) FindAGrave - SGT James Fred Campbell (group burial photo) NARA Prisoner Of War File - Vere Daw Carpenter NARA Prisoner Of War File - Olinto F. Lodovici FindAGrave - Olinto F. "Shine" Lodovici (grave photo, obituary) FindAGrave - Vere D. Carpenter (grave photo) B-29 Hunters of the JAAF (2000) page 72-73 covers this mission and losses Shisui Hometown Research Society Newsletter No. 98 “A B-29 Was Shot Down” by Tokuzo Sakurai, Oct 1, 2000 B-29 “Haley’s Comet” 42-24616 was not rammed by a Ki-45 Nick, but was shot by fighters over Target 357 and crashed at Shisui, Imba, on 27 January 1945 by Koji Takaki , February 9, 2011 Thanks to Koji Takaki and Henry Sakaida for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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