|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 20th AF 314th BW 19th BG 28th BS |
Pilot Captain Gerard J. O'Leary, O-798161 (MIA / KIA) Pittsburgh, PA Co-pilot 1st Lt. Giles W. Bowers, Jr., O-781190 (MIA / KIA) Marshall, TX Bombardier F/O Donald Leintz, T-131853 (MIA / KIA) Harvey, ND CFC Gunner F/O Leonard C. Lawicki, T-127772 (MIA / KIA) Cleveland, OH Gunner 2nd Lt. George F. Maddox, Jr., 2072824 (MIA / KIA) Atlanta, GA Gunner Sgt Jack D. Kepner, 35095144 (MIA / KIA) Alexandria, IN Gunner Sgt Bernard R. Yglesias, 38656053 (MIA / KIA) Baton Rouge, LA Radio Sgt Edward J. Koblinski, 36522260 (MIA / KIA) MI Gunner Sgt Angus E. McConnell, 35590100 (MIA / KIA) Andrews. NC Tail Gunner Sgt Joseph A. Doole, 12221332 (MIA / KIA) Purdys, NY Crashed May 29, 1945 MACR 14538 Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 7446. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29A-25-BN Superfortress serial number 42-94039. Ferried overseas to the North Field on Guam. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 314th Bomb Wing (314th BW), 19th Bombardment Group (19th BG), 28th Bombardment Squadron (28th BS). Nicknamed "City of Atlanta". Mission History On May 29, 1945 took off from North Field on Guam (Mission 186) piloted by Captain Gerard J. O'Leary with crew X5 on an incendiary bombing mission against Yokohama. The weather was clear. Over the target, this B-29 was damaged by anti-aircraft fire and the no. 3 engine was feathered and remained in formation. Returning, the formation broke up and this B-29 was observed to loss altitude and speed and the VHF radio was out but maintained communication with Morse code blinker code and informed the rest of the formation that some of his controls were out and he had two wounded gunners aboard and the radio was inoperative and request an escort to Iwo Jima and a call made for them to be ready with ambulances. Afterwards, the formation entered a weather front and the B-29s flew on instruments for about an hour until the weather cleared roughly 150 miles north of Iwo Jima at an altitude of 7,400' flying at 178 mph. About ten minutes later, this B-29 was observed to nose down violently and dove straight towards the sea. After a few seconds, the nose tucked under and the bomber flipped upside down with parts peeling off and falling separately as the rest of the B-29 entered a slow spin to the left and made three turns before it crashed into the sea on the left wing and nose. The crash was observed by Lt. Colonel George T. Chadwell and Captain Van R. Parker. When this aircraft failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). Search Afterwards, only a greenish discoloration on the surface of the water marked where the bomber had crashed. Other B-29s in the formation circled the spot it crashed and sent radio reports for 45 minutes before departing. Afterwards, the search effort was coordinated by Major Wilson Moore with XXI Bomber Command and the U.S. Navy (USN) but no trace of the crew was found. Memorials The entire crew was declared dead on the day of the mission. All are memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the court of the missing. O'Leary, Bowers, Leintz, Lawicki, Maddox, Kepner, Koblinski, McConnell and Doole court 7. Yglesias on court 5. O'Leary earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Mount Carmel Cemetery in Verona, PA. Bowers earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Leintz earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Lawicki earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Maddox earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at Oak Hill Cemetery in Griffin, GA at section B, block 1. Kepner earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Yglesias earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Koblinski earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. McConnell earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at First United Methodist Church Cemetery in Hayesvill, NC. Doole earned the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and and Purple Heart, posthumously. He also has a memorial marker at June Cemetery in North Salem, NY. Relatives Ceil Bernard (Bernard R. Yglesias was my mother's first husband) References USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29A-25-BN Superfortress 42-94039 "94039 (314th BW) hit by flak on mission to Yokohama May 29, 1945 and crashed into sea on return flight. All 11 crew KIA. MACR 14538." Missing Air Crew Report 14538 (MACR 14538) created May 30, 1945 The Marshall News "Billy Bowers Listed Missing B-29 Co-Pilot Lost In Pacific" June 28, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Gerard J. O'Leary American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Giles W. Bowers, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Donald Leintz American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Leonard C. Lawicki American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - George F. Maddox, Jr. American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Jack D. Kepner American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Bernard R. Yglesias American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Edward J. Koblinski American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Angus E. McConnell American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Joseph A. Doole FindAGrave - Capt Gerard J. O'Leary (court of the missing) FindAGrave - CPT Gerard J. O'Leary (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - 1Lt Giles William Bowers, Jr (photo, obituary, court of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Donald Leintz (court of the missing photo) FindAGrave - Flt O Leonard C Lawicki (court of the missing photo) FindAGrave - 2Lt George F Maddox, Jr (court of the missing photo) FindAGrave - George F. Maddox, Jr (memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - Jack D. Kepner FindAGrave - Bernard R. Yglesias FindAGrave - Edward J. Koblinski FindAGrave - Sgt Angus E McConnell (court of the missing) FindAGrave - SGT Angus Edward McConnell (photo, memorial marker photo) FindAGrave - SGT Joseph A Doole (courts of the missing photo) FIndAGrave - SGT Joseph A Doole (memorial marker) Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
|
 B-29  MIA 10 Missing |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
