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| USAAF 20th AF 462nd BG 770th BS |
Pilot Captain Gilbert E. Johnson, O-725307 (MIA / KIA) Orange, CA Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Eldon J. Campbell, O-808950 (MIA / KIA) Hunter, OK Navigator 1st Lt. Alton J. Laumann, 1101909 (MIA / KIA) Cologne, MN Bombardier 2nd Franklin C. Sherman, O-673820 (MIA / KIA) Chautauqua County, NY Engineer 2nd Lt. Smith L. Williams, Jr., O-557347 (MIA / KIA) Los Angeles, CA Radio Sgt John F. Jones, 12170327 (MIA / KIA) Glens Falls, NY Radar 2nd Lt. Leon Lichard, O-863015 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL Command Gunner Sgt George F. Corton, 15130428 (MIA / KIA) Garfield Heights, OH Right Gunner Sgt George M. Peacock, 16086732 (MIA / KIA) Kalamazoo, MI Left Gunner Sgt Roland C. Diorio, 32624821 (MIA / KIA) New York, NY Tail Gunner Cpl Robert L. Ziegler, 16155741 (MIA / KIA) Milwaukee, WI MIA December 7, 1944 MACR 10124 Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 3493. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-10-BW Superfortress serial number 42-6359. Flown overseas to China Burma India (CBI). Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force, 462nd Bombardment Group, 770th Bombardment Squadron. Nicknamed "Vixen". When lost, engines Wright 9-3350-23A serial number 43-150403, W-461287, 43-150327 and 43-130029. Armed with .50 caliber machine guns 968476, 968373, 968858, 968866, 981024, 312816, 968656, 968672, 312340, 968717 plus a pyrotechnic pistol M8. Mission History On December 7, 1944 took off from Kung Lai Airfield (Kuinglai, Chunglai) in China piloted by Captain Gilbert E. Johnson on a bombing mission against the Manchuria Airplane Manufacturing Company and Mukden Arsenal at Mukden in Manchuria. The weather conditions were bad with poor visibility. Returning from the mission, this B-29 was last seen at 4:22am over Sianfu in China. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Memorials The entire crew was officially declared dead on April 3, 1946. All are memorialized at Manila American Cemetery on the tablets of the missing. Johnson earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Campbell earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Laumann earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Saint Bernards Cemetery in Cologne, MN. Sherman earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Sunset Hill Cemetery in Lakewood, NY. Williams earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mountain View Cemetery and Mausoleum in Altadena, CA. Jones earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Lichard earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Corton earned the Purple Heart, posthumously. Peacock earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Riverside Cemetery in Kalamazoo, MI. Diorio earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Ziegler earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Relatives Matt Jones (nephew John F. Jones) References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Gilbert E. Johnson NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Eldon J. Campbell NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Alton J. Laumann NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Franklin C. Sherman NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Smith L. Williams, Jr. NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John F. Jones NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - George M. Peacock NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Robert L. Ziegler USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-10-BW Superfortress 42-6359 "359 (462nd BG, 770th BS) crashed into mountain near Qinyuan Shanxi, China Dec 7, 1944 while on mission to Manchuria airplane manufacturing company and adjacent arsenal at Mukden, Manchuria. MACR 10124. All 11 crew killed." Missing Air Crew Report 10124 (MACR 10124) created December 10, 1944 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gilbert E. Johnson American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Elden J. Campbell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Alton J. Laumann American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Franklin C. Sherman American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Smith L. Williams, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - John F. Jones American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leon Lichard American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George F. Corton American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George M. Peacock American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Roland C. Diorio American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Robert L. Ziegler FindAGrave - Capt Gilbert E Johnson (photo, obituary, tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Elden J Campbell (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Alton J Laumann (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Alton Laumann (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Franklin C Sherman (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Franklin C. Sherman (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt Smith L Williams, Jr (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Lieut Smith Laverne Williams, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt John F Jones (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Leon Lichard (tablets of the missing) FindAGrave - Sgt George F Corton (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt George M Peacock (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Sgt George M Peacock (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Sgt Roland C Diorio (tablets of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Corp Robert L Ziegler (photo, tablets of the missing photo) The Post Star "On Dec. 7, local family remembers their lost serviceman" by Don Lehman December 6, 2019 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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 B-29  Map Dec 7, 1944  Photo Archive  MIA 11 Missing |
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