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| USAAF 20th AF 58th BW 468th BG 793rd BS  William Duffy, Jr. 1999 |
Pilot Major Donald Humphrey, O-403902 (survived) Postville, Iowa Co-Pilot Lt. Col. Robinson Billings, O-388871 (MIA / KIA) Hopedale, MA Navigator Captain C. A. Hansman, O-435513 (survived, MIA / KIA February 14, 1945) Bombardier 1st Lt. William F. Duffy, O-738969 (survived) Chicago, IL Engineer 1st Lt. Ernest C. Saltzman, Jr., O-862435 (survived) Radio T/Sgt. M. A. Kundrat, 33446961 (MIA / KIA) Durman, PA Radar 1st Lt. Martin James Govednik, O-863344 (POW) CFC Gunner S/Sgt J. A. MacDonald, 31289719 (POW) Left Gunner T/Sgt Harold D. Gillett, 32476697 (POW, survived) Right Gunner T/Sgt Ralph C. Lindley, 37433361 (POW, survived) Omaha, NB Tail Gunner S/Sgt R. E. Spratt, 15667634 (MIA / KIA) Gilbert, WV Crashed January 11, 1945 at 2:03am MACR 10879 Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 4365. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-45-BW Superfortress serial number 42-24704. Ferried overseas to China Burma India (CBI). Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 58th Bomb Wing (58th BW), 468th Bombardment Group (468th BG), 793rd Bombardment Squadron (793rd BS). No nose art or nickname. When lost, engine and weapon serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 10879 (MACR 10879). Mission History On January 11, 1945 took off from Kharagpur Airfield in India piloted by Major Donald Humphrey with co-pilot (Aircraft Commander) Lt. Col. Robinson Billings on a bombing mission (Mission 27) against the dry docks at Singapore. Last contacted by radio over Mersing in Malay (Malaysia). When this aircraft failed to return it was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA). Pilot Donald Humphrey wrote on January 13, 1946: "We were over the sea, so I turned inland over the Malay state of Negri Sembilan, and at the same time yelled for the crew to get ready to jump. Got them all lined up at the hatches ready to go as soon as we got away from the cultivated area and into the hill country where we might have a chance of evading the Japs. Just as I was ready to go [to bail out] the plane plunged sharply and threw me forward against the controls. I don't really remember how I managed to get out. I was so groggy that, although I jumped at about 15,000 feet, I couldn't get my chute open until about 4,000 [feet]. Most of the other chutes were far above me. But I couldn't take my eyes off the plane. When that wing [the right wing, on which the Number 3 engine was located] gave way the stress and strain was just too much for it. The other wing broke off, then the tail, and finally the fuselage broke in two." Fates of the Crew Several of the crew died in the crash and others died from injuries sustained shortly afterwards. Four of the crew were captured by the Japanese: Govednick and MacDonald. Gillett and Lindley were held as a prisoners at Saigon POW Camp and was liberated at the end of the war. Four managed to evade capture with the aid of a group of Communist guerrillas in Malaya: Humphrey, Hansman, Duffy, and Saltzman. Hansman went missing on February 14, 1945. The other three survived until the end of the war. Wreckage Crashed near Negeri Sembilan. In the 1990s, the son of William F. Duffy visited the crash site. Memorials Billings has a memorial marker at Hopedale Village Cemetery in Hopedale, MA. Govednik passed away April 21, 1997 at age 77. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park and Mausoleum in Fort Worth, TX. Relatives William F. Duffy, Jr. (son of 1st Lt. William F. Duffy) In 1999, Duffy visited the crash site near Negeri Sembilan and published "Destiny Ours". His father was still alive, and stays only in bed because of illness but still can vividly recall what was happened on that fateful day. He remember they have eggs as breakfast before the mission, he also felt angry on the wings of B-29 bomber, which collapsed so easily, and he even mentioned he decided to turn towards Negeri Sembilan because he could not swim well! References Note, in a postwar interview, pilot Donald Humphrey referred to this B-29 as "Postville Express", this was the name of Humphrey's prior aircraft, B-29 "Postville Express" 42-6279. Another source indicates the nickname might have been "Gear Box". Other sources state the crash was at Rembau. NARA NARA World War II Prisoners of War Data File - Harold Gillett NARA War II Prisoners of War Data File - Ralph C. Lindley USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-45-BW Superfortress 42-24704 "24704 (468th BG) crashed Malaya due to combat damage Jan 11, 1945. MACR 10879" Destiny Ours If They Tell You I'm Missing by William F. Duffy, Jr. Star-Telegram "WWII Soldier Leaves Legacy Of Liberty" obituary of Martin J. Govednik April 1997 The Story of B-29 Superfortress 42-24704 by Goh K. Loon FindAGrave - LTC Robinson Billings (photos, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Martin J Govednik (grave photo) Thanks to Goh K. Loon 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 April 19, 2021
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