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| USAAF 20th AF 497th BG 870th BS  870th BS Feb 16, 1945  870th BS 1945 |
Command Pilot Lt. Col John H. Griffith, O-404374 (KIA, BR) Wilkes-Barre, PA Pilot Major Keith N. Merrill (MIA / KIA) Pima, AZ Co-Pilot 1st Lt. Walter M. Fike, Jr., O-777635 (MIA / KIA) Long Beach, CA Navigator-Bombardier 1st Lt. Buford P. Johnson, O-438244 (MIA / KIA) Minneapolis, MN Bombardier 1st Lt. William D. Wilson, O-706327 (MIA / KIA) Memphis, TN Engineer 1st Lt. Patrick B. Quinn, O-868591 (KIA, BR) Beeville, TX Radio SSgt Harry R. Hill, 16122677 (KIA, BR) Peoria, IL Radar SSgt James E. Keenan, 31431859 (KIA, BR) Boston, MA CFC Gunner SSgt Edward F. Gawron, 32855468 (KIA, BR) Amsterdam, NY Gunner SSgt John L. Powell, 14016111 (KIA, BR) Andalusia, AL Gunner Sgt John T. Jenkins, 33696149 (KIA, BR) Clairton, PA Gunner TSgt Kurt J. Hermann II, 12126246 (KIA, BR) Babylon, NY Observer 1st Lt. Joseph V. LaMoglia, O-861203 (KIA, BR) Oakland, CA Crashed July 3, 1945 MACR 14923 Aircraft History Built by Boeing in Wichita, Kansas. Constructors Number 4435. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-50-BW Superfortress serial number 42-24774. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 497th Bombardment Group (497th BG), 870th Bombardment Squadron (870th BS). Nicknamed "Miss Hap". The nose had code K-339. When lost engine serial numbers and weapon makers and serial numbers not listed in Missing Air Crew Report 14923 (MACR 14923). Mission History On July 3, 1945 at approximately 7:50pm took off from Isely Field on Saipan piloted by Major Keith N. Merrill on a bombing mission against Kōchi on Shikoku Island in Japan. In addition to the regular crew of eleven, also aboard was command pilot Lt. Col John H. Griffith and observer 1st Lt. Joseph V. LaMoglia. Over the target, shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed into Kochi Park. When this bomber failed to return it was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Recovery of Remains After the crash, the remains of the crew were recovered and transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The entire crew were officially declared dead the day of the mission. On May 17, 1949 the entire crew was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in a group burial at section 82 sites 122-124. Relatives Paula Merrill (daughter Keith Merrill) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-50-BW Superfortress 42-24774 "24774 (497th BG, 870th BS) MIA Jul 3, 1945 MACR 14923 " Missing Air Crew Report 14923 (MACR 14923) created July 5, 1945 FindAGrave - LTC John Harris Griffith Sr. (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - MAJ Keith Nelson Merrill (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Walter Harvey Fike Jr. (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Buford Paul Johnson (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT William Dyer Wilson (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Patrick Benjaman “Pat” Quinn (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT Harry Robert Hill (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT James Edward Keenan (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Edward Frank Gawron (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SSGT John Lawrence Powell (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - SGT John Tennant Jenkins (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - TSGT Kurt Joachim Hermann II (photos, group burial photo) FindAGrave - 1LT Joseph Vincent LaMoglia (photos, group burial photo) 397th Bomb Group - The Merrill Crew (photos) 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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