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Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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USAAF 20th AF 313th BW 505th BG 482nd BS ![]() USAAF 1945 ![]() USAAF 1945 |
Pilot Commander Captain Edward Fishkin, O-383237 (MIA / KIA, BNR) Verona, NJ Co-Pilot F/O Alfred V. Boulton, T-65112 (MIA / KIA, BNR) Brooklyn, NY Bombardier 2nd Lt Gerald J. McIntosh, O-2075437 (MIA / KIA, BNR) Brooklyn, NY Navigator 1st Lt John J. Meehan, O-2079058 (POW, died August 15, 1945, BR) Queens, NY Engineer SSgt John Driapsa, 15018513 (MIA / KIA, BNR) Bainbridge, OH Radar F/O William H. Moore, T-137750 (MIA / KIA, BNR) Tipton, IN Radio Sgt Henry W. Sutherland, 39041587 (POW, died August 15, 1945, BR) Reno, NV CFC Gunner Sgt Osmond J. Hannigan, 17118454 (POW died August 15, 1945, BR) Le Sueur County, MN Right Gunner Sgt James M. Fitzgerald, 31323581 (POW, executed July 21, 1945, BR) Gardiner, ME Left Gunner Sgt Harvey B. Kennedy, Jr., 34540097 (POW, executed July 21, 1945, BR) Sarasota, FL Tail Sgt Joseph C. Kanzler, 42034646 (POW died August 15, 1945, BR) Richmond Hill, NY Crashed June 5, 1945 MACR 14603 Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 4470. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-50-BW Superfortress serial number 42-24809. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 313th Bomb Wing (313th BW), 505th Bomb Group (505th BG) 482nd Bombardment Squadron (482nd BS). Nicknamed "Indian Maid". Mission History On June 5, 1945 took off from Tinian piloted by Captain Edward Fishkin as part of 473 B-29 incendiary bombing mission against Kobe. Over the target at the start of the bomb run, shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed at Kobe City Mitsubishi shipyard near Kobe. Six of the crew managed to bail out and five others went down with the bomber. Fates of the Crew The six survivors were quickly captured and turned over to the Kempeitai (Military Police) at Kobe and became Prisoner Of War (POW). None would survive with two executed and four dying of disease in captivity. On July 21, 1945 two of the crew: Fitzgerald and Kennedy were executed at the Shinodayama Military Parade Ground near Osaka. On August 15, 1945 four of the crew: Meehan, Sutherland, Kanzler and Hannigan died in captivity. Wreckage This B-29 crash site remained in Kobe. The wreckage included the engines, landing gear and other wreckage. Too Young To Die pages 248-249: "...we passed the mangled wreckage of an American B-29 Superfortress bomber lying where it had been shot down adjacent to the footpath. It was easily identifiable by its 2200 hp Wright Cyclone engines, part of the cowling which had been torn off in the impact, and by the distinctive twin-bogie undercarriage lying forlornly alongside. Postwar investigations that it was probably the wreckage of Indian Maid, a B-29 Superfortress which was shot down by Japanese 'Tony' fighters over Osaka." Recovery of Remains Postwar, the remains of those executed were recovered and buried at Yokohama Cemetery. Later, transported to the United States for permanent burial. Memorials The five crew killed in the crash were officially declared dead the day of the mission. All remain listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Fishkin was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the on the courts of the missing, court 7. Boulton was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the on the courts of the missing, court 7. McIntosh was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the on the courts of the missing, court 7. Meehan is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section P, site 832. Driapsa was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the on the courts of the missing, court 7. Moore was officially declared dead the day of the mission and remains listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the on the courts of the missing, court 7. Sutherland is buried at Mountain View Cemetery in Reno, NV in section Oak Lawn. Hannigan is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section P, site 740. Fitzgerald is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Manchester, ME. Kennedy was executed July 21, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Saint Mary's Cemetery in Manchester, Maine. He is also listed on his family grave of his parents James H Fitzgerald and Agnes E. Fitzgerald as "1916 James M. their son 1945" Kennedy was executed July 21, 1945. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at Sarasota Memorial Park in Sarasota, FL. Kanzler died of disease on August 15, 1945 at Osaka Main Camp. He earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. He is buried at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) at section Q site 819. Relatives Diana Bouille (nephew of Driapsa) "My uncle was John Driapsa. I have a picture of my uncle and a different plane with his original crew. He was on his first mission and was taking the place of another person (replacing Sgt W. O'Marrah of Chicago). John’s hometown was Bainbridge, Ohio in the south central part of Ohio." References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Edward Fishkin NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alfred V. Boulton NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John J. Meehan NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John Driapsa NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Henry W. Sutherland NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - James M. Fitzgerald NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Harvey B. Kennedy, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Joseph C. Kanzler USAF Serial Number Search Results - 42-24809 "24809 (505th BG, 482nd BS) shot down by AAA Jun 5, 1945 while on mission to Kobe, Japan. MACR 14603. 5 crew KIA, 6 bailed out and became POW. 2 crew were executed at Osaka, Japan Jul 20, 1945 and 4 died in captivity of disease." NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - John J. Meehan date of death listed as 8/15/45 NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - Henry W. Sutherland NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - Osmond J. Hannigan NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - James M. Fitzgerald NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - Harvey B. Kennedy, Jr. NARA World War II Records of World War II Prisoners of War - Joseph C. Kanzler American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward Fishkin FindAGrave - Capt Edward Fishkin (photo, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alfred V. Boulton FindAGrave - Flt O Alfred V Boulton (photos, courts of the missing photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerard J. McIntosh FindAGrave - 2Lt Gerard J McIntosh (courts of the missing) FindAGrave - 2LT John J Meehan (grave photo) date of death listed as 6/5/45 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John Driapsa FindAGrave - SSgt John Driapsa (photo, courts of the missing) FindAGrave - John Driapsa (photos, memorial marker photo) American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - William H. Moore FindAGrave - Flt O William H. Moore H. Moore (courts of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt Henry William Sutherland Jr. (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Osmond Joseph Hannigan (photo, grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt James Michaud Fitzgerald (grave photos) FindAGrave - Sgt. Harvey Brown Kennedy Jr. (news, grave photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Joseph C Kanzler (grave photo) JA2TKO & B-29 by Kunio Okada Too Young To Die (1997) by Bryan Cox pages 248-249 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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