Pilot Major Robert Sewell, Jr., O-398518 (MIA / KIA) PA
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Merie S. Eaton, O-760695 (MIA / KIA) WA
Navigator 2nd Lt. Irwin Gendelman, O-2056376 (MIA / KIA) NY
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Louis Stephen, O-695982 (MIA / KIA) RI
Engineer 2nd Lt. Isaac Samarel, O-868666 (MIA / KIA) Mexico
Radio SSgt Kurt Porjesz. 37472060 (MIA / KIA) NY
Asst Radio Sgt Maurice R Komocar, 36629214 (MIA / KIA) IL
Gunner SSgt Thomas E McEvoy, 37473695 (MIA / KIA) NB
Gunner Sgt Harry L. Mears, Jr., 32757166 (MIA / KIA) NJ
Gunner Sgt William C. Poole, Jr., 18126223 (MIA / KIA) TX
Gunner Sgt Ausbon Judd, 35807039 (MIA / KIA) KY
MIA April 4, 1945
MACR 14412
Aircraft History
Built by Boeing. Constructors number 10544. Assigned to the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) to the 20th Air Force, 73rd Bombardment Wing, 500th Bombardment Group, 882nd Bombardment Squadron on January 10, 1945. Nicknamed "Homing Device". Tail code Z31. When lost engines R-3350-23A serial numbers DW-205006, DW-205219, DW-205035 and DW-200014. Weapon serial numbers not noted in Missing Air Crew Report (MACR).
Mission History
Mission 57: On April 3, 1945 took off from Isley Field No. 1 on Saipan as one of sixty-one B-29s on a bombing mission against Tachikawa Aircraft Assembly Plant at Tachikawa. Weather was clear with unlimited visibility. Last contact with the bomber at the time of take off, no other contact was made afterwards. This B-29 failed to return and was declared Missing In Action (MIA) on April 4, 1945 at 3:11am.
Search
No specific search mission were flown for this bomber because the location of loss was unknown.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead on April 5, 1946. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at Honolulu Cemetery (Punchbowl).
References
The nickname of this B-29 is listed as both "Homing Device" or "Homing De-Vice" (also the nickname of B-29 "Homing De-Vice" 42-24785). Unclear if the tail code was Z31 or Z25.
Missing Air Crew Report 14412 (MACR 14412)
B-29.org 73rd Bomb Wing
Data Nickname - Homing Device
The B-29 Superfortress Chronology, 1934-1960 pages 91, 296 (index Homing De-Vice), 305 (index 42-24785)
The B-29 Superfortress: A Comprehensive Registry of the Planes and Their Missions page 64
Thanks to Henry Sakaida 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
February 18, 2020
|
