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| USAAF 20th AF 9th BG 1st BS |
Aircraft History Built at the Boeing Wichita Factory. Constructors Number 10807. Completed with an unpainted aluminum finish. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-70-BW Superfortress serial number 44-69975. Wartime History Ferried overseas on May 3, 1945. Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 9th Bombardment Group, 1st Bombardment Squadron (1st BS) and operated from North Field on Tinian. Assigned to pilot 1st Lt. Edward T. Kelby. Tail code ⓧ (Circle X) in black atop the serial number. On May 18, 1945 first combat mission. On May 28, 1945 General A.W. Kissner, Chief of Staff, 21st Bomber Command, wrote to U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) General Keller Rockey, Fifth Marine Division and requested to name a new B-29 in honor of the Fifth Marines as a token of respect and appreciation for capturing Iwo Jima. The Marines agreed, and this unnamed B-29 was nicknamed "The Spearhead". Assigned to crew 11A that included twins: Burton Dyer and Langdon Dyer, possibly the only twins to fly combat missions together. The left side of the nose was the nickname inside a black rectangle with arrowhead towards the nose and a painting of the second flag raising, photographed by Joe Rosenthal with a yellow rectangle outlined in red with stenciled "The flag of the United States was raised over Mt. Surabachi Iwo Jima. February 23, 1945 by men of the 28th Regiment, Fifth Marine Division.". Below the pilot's window was "AP Com. Dave L. Rogan" and below "C.C. M/Sgt J.C. Hudson". Below was a scoreboard indicating missions flown with bomb markings with black and red bombs indicating conventional bombing and fire bombing missions flown and yellow mines with parachutes indicating aerial mine missions. The right side of the nose was a large black arrowhead pointing towards the nose. Inside on the upper half was the 5th Marine Division logo. At the center was the nickname "The Spearhead" in white block letters and in the lower half of the arrowhead was "5th Marine Division" in yellow block letters. On August 17, 1945 this bomber was dedicated at a ceremony on Tinian attended by roughly a hundred Marines including senior officers from the Fifth Marine Division and the band from the Fifth Division and 9th Bomb Group that performed together. On September 1, 1945 this B-29 flew its last combat mission. In total, it flew 25 combat missions and one aborted mission. Postwar On May 8, 1946, returned to the United States. On May 23, 1946 it was scrapped at Aberdeen. References USAF Serial Number Search Results - Boeing B-29-70-BW Superfortress 44-69975 Dave L. Rogan, AC, 1st Squadron (via 9th BG history) recalls: "On May 28, 1945, General A.W. Kissner, Chief of Staff, 21st Bomber Command, wrote to General Keller Rockey, Fifth Marine Division, that as a token of respect and appreciation of the great contribution made by the Fifth Marine Division in the taking of Iwo Jima; they desired to name a new B-29 for the Fifth Marine Division in the taking of Iwo Jima, and to inscribe the Division Insignia on the plane. Our crew was selected for this honor and crew 11A was proud to have a new ship named “The Spearhead”. The brass of the Fifth Marine Division and the 9th BG got together and had a dedication ceremony on Tinian, August 17, 1945. About 100 Marines including their band took part. “The Spearhead” also took part in the ceremony. All in all, it was fun, and since our crew led many missions, “The Spearhead” was an appropriate name. Its two waist gunners were twins (Burton and Langdon Dyer) and as far as I know, were the only twins to fly combat missions together." Contribute
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