Verdel served as a Sergeant and Left Gunner on B-29 #42-24662, 881st Bomber Squadron, 500th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during WW II. Based on the MACR this B-29 did not have a nickname.
He resided in Marshall County, Alabama prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 15, 1942 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
B-29 # 42-24662 took off, with a crew of 11 and 1 passenger, from Isley Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over an aircraft factory in Tokyo, Japan during the war.
While returning from a successful mission they apparent experienced mechanical problems with the B-29 as it was reported by the other B-29's on the mission that there was no enemy action from the ground or in the air during this mission. Another B-29 received a radio message from B-29 # 42-24662 and they were calling out an " SOS ". This occurred approx. 200 miles north of Saipan and it is believed that they ditched into the sea. The entire crew and their 1 passenger were all lost in this ditching.
Verdel was declared "Missing In Action" in this ditching during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 14163688
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29 # 42-24662:
Abernathy, Everette L. ~ Sgt, Radar Operator, NC
Beery, Marion E. ~ Cpl, Tail Gunner, OR
Bjerva, Myron C. ~ 2nd Lt, Engineer, MN
Brown, Verdel ~ Sgt, Left Gunner, AL
Clore, Robert B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, OH
Connell, Richard L. ~ Sgt, Right Gunner, WI
Fleming, Clifford M. ~ Cpl, CFC Gunner, MN
Irvin, Joseph R. ~ Capt, Pilot, AL
Moores, William L., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Morton, Alfred J. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ME
Mosier, Gerald L. ~ Maj, Passenger, NY
Shannon, Clay D. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Note: The below info that this B-29 was nicknamed " 20th Century Limited " and that they were rammed by a Japanese Air Craft are in error based on the MACR and all other historical information for this aircraft.
Sergeant Brown was Killed In Action aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-29-40-BW
Superfortress #42-24662, nicknamed "20th Century Limited." While returning from
bombardment mission to the Musashino Aircraft Engine Factory near Tokyo, was
rammed by an enemy Ki-46 fighter over Hachijo Island, Japan and crashed into the
sea with the loss of all twelve aboard. With the 500th Bomb Group, 881st Bomb
Squadron.
He resided in Marshall County, Alabama prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 15, 1942 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
B-29 # 42-24662 took off, with a crew of 11 and 1 passenger, from Isley Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over an aircraft factory in Tokyo, Japan during the war.
While returning from a successful mission they apparent experienced mechanical problems with the B-29 as it was reported by the other B-29's on the mission that there was no enemy action from the ground or in the air during this mission. Another B-29 received a radio message from B-29 # 42-24662 and they were calling out an " SOS ". This occurred approx. 200 miles north of Saipan and it is believed that they ditched into the sea. The entire crew and their 1 passenger were all lost in this ditching.
Verdel was declared "Missing In Action" in this ditching during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 14163688
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29 # 42-24662:
Abernathy, Everette L. ~ Sgt, Radar Operator, NC
Beery, Marion E. ~ Cpl, Tail Gunner, OR
Bjerva, Myron C. ~ 2nd Lt, Engineer, MN
Brown, Verdel ~ Sgt, Left Gunner, AL
Clore, Robert B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, OH
Connell, Richard L. ~ Sgt, Right Gunner, WI
Fleming, Clifford M. ~ Cpl, CFC Gunner, MN
Irvin, Joseph R. ~ Capt, Pilot, AL
Moores, William L., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Morton, Alfred J. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ME
Mosier, Gerald L. ~ Maj, Passenger, NY
Shannon, Clay D. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Note: The below info that this B-29 was nicknamed " 20th Century Limited " and that they were rammed by a Japanese Air Craft are in error based on the MACR and all other historical information for this aircraft.
Sergeant Brown was Killed In Action aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-29-40-BW
Superfortress #42-24662, nicknamed "20th Century Limited." While returning from
bombardment mission to the Musashino Aircraft Engine Factory near Tokyo, was
rammed by an enemy Ki-46 fighter over Hachijo Island, Japan and crashed into the
sea with the loss of all twelve aboard. With the 500th Bomb Group, 881st Bomb
Squadron.
Verdel served as a Sergeant and Left Gunner on B-29 #42-24662, 881st Bomber Squadron, 500th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during WW II. Based on the MACR this B-29 did not have a nickname.
He resided in Marshall County, Alabama prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 15, 1942 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
B-29 # 42-24662 took off, with a crew of 11 and 1 passenger, from Isley Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over an aircraft factory in Tokyo, Japan during the war.
While returning from a successful mission they apparent experienced mechanical problems with the B-29 as it was reported by the other B-29's on the mission that there was no enemy action from the ground or in the air during this mission. Another B-29 received a radio message from B-29 # 42-24662 and they were calling out an " SOS ". This occurred approx. 200 miles north of Saipan and it is believed that they ditched into the sea. The entire crew and their 1 passenger were all lost in this ditching.
Verdel was declared "Missing In Action" in this ditching during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 14163688
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29 # 42-24662:
Abernathy, Everette L. ~ Sgt, Radar Operator, NC
Beery, Marion E. ~ Cpl, Tail Gunner, OR
Bjerva, Myron C. ~ 2nd Lt, Engineer, MN
Brown, Verdel ~ Sgt, Left Gunner, AL
Clore, Robert B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, OH
Connell, Richard L. ~ Sgt, Right Gunner, WI
Fleming, Clifford M. ~ Cpl, CFC Gunner, MN
Irvin, Joseph R. ~ Capt, Pilot, AL
Moores, William L., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Morton, Alfred J. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ME
Mosier, Gerald L. ~ Maj, Passenger, NY
Shannon, Clay D. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Note: The below info that this B-29 was nicknamed " 20th Century Limited " and that they were rammed by a Japanese Air Craft are in error based on the MACR and all other historical information for this aircraft.
Sergeant Brown was Killed In Action aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-29-40-BW
Superfortress #42-24662, nicknamed "20th Century Limited." While returning from
bombardment mission to the Musashino Aircraft Engine Factory near Tokyo, was
rammed by an enemy Ki-46 fighter over Hachijo Island, Japan and crashed into the
sea with the loss of all twelve aboard. With the 500th Bomb Group, 881st Bomb
Squadron.
He resided in Marshall County, Alabama prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on October 15, 1942 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a mechanic and also as Married.
B-29 # 42-24662 took off, with a crew of 11 and 1 passenger, from Isley Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over an aircraft factory in Tokyo, Japan during the war.
While returning from a successful mission they apparent experienced mechanical problems with the B-29 as it was reported by the other B-29's on the mission that there was no enemy action from the ground or in the air during this mission. Another B-29 received a radio message from B-29 # 42-24662 and they were calling out an " SOS ". This occurred approx. 200 miles north of Saipan and it is believed that they ditched into the sea. The entire crew and their 1 passenger were all lost in this ditching.
Verdel was declared "Missing In Action" in this ditching during the war.
He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 14163688
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29 # 42-24662:
Abernathy, Everette L. ~ Sgt, Radar Operator, NC
Beery, Marion E. ~ Cpl, Tail Gunner, OR
Bjerva, Myron C. ~ 2nd Lt, Engineer, MN
Brown, Verdel ~ Sgt, Left Gunner, AL
Clore, Robert B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, OH
Connell, Richard L. ~ Sgt, Right Gunner, WI
Fleming, Clifford M. ~ Cpl, CFC Gunner, MN
Irvin, Joseph R. ~ Capt, Pilot, AL
Moores, William L., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Morton, Alfred J. ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, ME
Mosier, Gerald L. ~ Maj, Passenger, NY
Shannon, Clay D. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, MO
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Previously added to Find A Grave,
source unknown:
Note: The below info that this B-29 was nicknamed " 20th Century Limited " and that they were rammed by a Japanese Air Craft are in error based on the MACR and all other historical information for this aircraft.
Sergeant Brown was Killed In Action aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-29-40-BW
Superfortress #42-24662, nicknamed "20th Century Limited." While returning from
bombardment mission to the Musashino Aircraft Engine Factory near Tokyo, was
rammed by an enemy Ki-46 fighter over Hachijo Island, Japan and crashed into the
sea with the loss of all twelve aboard. With the 500th Bomb Group, 881st Bomb
Squadron.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Alabama.
Family Members
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