B-29-5-BW 42-6299 “humpin honey” Assigned to 770th BS/462nd BG. At 1022 hours local time on 7 December 1944, while heading northeast to Mukden, Manchuria, at 20,000ft, the aircraft was rammed by a Japanese fighter coming in from twelve o’clock and the front of the aircraft was destroyed. The B-29 fell down and spiraled down and began exploding, before crashing and burning on the outskirts of Mukden. Only one parachute was seen but the two side gunners both survived, having been blown out of the aircraft or when the glass blister was thrown out. The CFC gunner attempted to climb to the radar compartment but passed out from lack of oxygen. According to the Japanese one crewman survived the crash but was shot by the Japanese as he was badly injured. All crew KIA unless noted: Pilot 1Lt Aurelius M. Colby, co-pilot 1Lt Frank R. O’Donnell, bombardier 1Lt Mark R. Cheland, flight engineer 1Lt Charles H. Krueger, navigator 2Lt Joseph B. Kremer, radio operator SSgt Raoul Keyals, CFC gunner SSgt Charles W. Ruddy, right gunner SSgt Kenneth A. Beckwith (POW), left gunner SSgt Walter E. Huss (POW), radar operator SSgt Herbert H. Roth, tail gunner TSgt Kenneth B. Gwaltney. 9 KIA, 2 POW. MACR 10125.
Dedicated to the lost men on this aircraft.
