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| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
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| USAAF 20th AF 330th BG 458th BS   USAAF 1945 |
Pilot Major John O. Vick (survived) Pacific Palisades, CA Co-Pilot F/O Robert A. Roast (survived) Bombardier Captain Charles L. Morris (survived) Crew 2nd Lt. Donald E. Martin (survived) Navigator Sgt Peter J. Orsini (survived) Radar 2nd Lt. Allan M. Cohen, O-2068612 (MIA / KIA) Kings County, NY CFC Cpl Harvey H. Delles (survived) Gunner Cpl Floyd R. Griffith (survived) Crew Cpl Walter Pychewicz (survived) Crew Cpl Dane A. Miller (survived) Crew Cpl William R. Shaver (survived) Crew Cpl Harvey H. Dellas (survived) Damaged May 17, 1945 MACR 14444 Aircraft History Built by Boeing. Constructors Number 10842. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-75-BW Superfortress serial number 44-70010. Wartime History Assigned to the 20th Air Force (20th AF), 330th Bombardment Group (330th BG), 458th Bombardment Squadron (458th BS). Tail code K Square 41. Assigned to pilot Major John O. Vick who nicknamed the bomber "City of Pacific Palisades" after his hometown. Later renamed "City of Glen Falls" and/or "City of Hatch, ID". Mission History On May 17, 1945 took off from North Field on Guam piloted by Major John O. Vick on a night incendiary bombing mission against Nagoya in Japan. While en route to the target at 3:45am, the no. 2 engine appeared to be on fire approximately 20 miles from the Japanese coast, and failed to feather and bombs were salvoed and turned towards Iwo Jima and the crew altered to be ready to bail out because the airplane seemed uncontrollable due to the vibrations and wind milling propeller. At 6:00am, the order was given to bail out, and the five crew in the rear of the plane jumped: Shaver, Miller, Delles, Pychewicz and Cohen. After bailing out Cohen's chute was seen to open but he was never seen again and was listed as Missing In Action (MIA). He was know to be unable to swim. The rest of the crew in the nose and cockpit (Vick, Roast, Morris, Martin, Orsini and Griffith) were unable to lower the nose landing gear. The vibrations ceased and they successfully landed landed on Iwo Jima at approximately 8:00am. On the ground, the number 2 engine burst into flames but was extinguished after 10-15 minutes. Search Two other B-29s dropped two rafts and a "gibson girl" and supplies to the men who had bailed out. A destroyer searched for Cohen for the remainder of the day and night, but failed to find any trace of him. Plus a PBY Catalina "Dumbo" unsuccessfully searched for him the next day. Afterwards, this B-29 was listed as ACNL "Aircraft Not Lost". It is unclear if this B-29 was repaired and continued to fly additional missions. Ultimate fate unknown. Memorials Cohen was officially declared dead on the day of the mission. He earned the Air Medal and Purple Heart, posthumously. Cohen is memorialized at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing, court 7. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - John O. Vick NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Allan M. Cohen USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-75-BW Superfortress 44-70010 "70010 (458th BG, 330th BG) loat from unknown cause in Pacific Ocean May 17, 1945. MACR 14444. Fate of crew unknown." Missing Air Crew Report 14444 (MACR 14444) created May 19, 1945 American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) - Allan M. Cohen FindAGrave - 2Lt Allan M Cohen (courts of the missing photo) 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  MIA 1 Missing |
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