Died in the crash of his B-29 bomber in Bossier Parish, La.
Aboard B-29 Superfortress #42-24536.
The bomber departed Harvard Army Airfield, Nebraska, for a navigational training flight that would take the aircrew to Galveston, Texas, onward to Lake Charles, Louisiana, then return to Harvard.
A faulty instrument forced the pilot to land at Lake Charles airfield. After repairs, the mission continued.
The pilot radioed the base at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, apparently after completing the leg of their assignment, to inform them that he couldn't transfer fuel from the bomb bay mounted fuel tanks, and would need to land to add gasoline to complete the mission. After onboarding more than 3,600 gallons of high-octane fuel, the bomber departed Barksdale field in a southern direction but in a shallow climb. The B-29 struck a tall pine tree nearly two miles beyond the end of the runway and crashed, killing the eleven-man crew. The accident occurred at 04:05 hours, more than 21 hours after the crew departed Harvard field.
Crew:
● CAPT Paul T Dowling, O-438482, SD, Pilot
● 2LT Robert E Powers, O-826285, IL, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Louis M Fueyo, O-772840, FL, Passenger
● 2LT Melvin R Plunkett, O2056636, OH, Passenger
● TSGT Charles F Olsen, 16026540, WI, Flight Engineer
● SGT Cyril T Martin, 13128048, PA, Radio Operator
● CPL Werner F Schmidt, 42092377, NY, Gunner
● PFC Kent A Lentz, 15304304, IN, Gunner
● PFC Harold Newfield, 42062111, NY, Gunner
● PFC Joaquim J "Jack" Ramos Jr , 11141328, MA, Gunner
● PFC John I Nowak, 31410091, CT, Gunner
~
Enlisted December 8, 1943.
Died in the crash of his B-29 bomber in Bossier Parish, La.
Aboard B-29 Superfortress #42-24536.
The bomber departed Harvard Army Airfield, Nebraska, for a navigational training flight that would take the aircrew to Galveston, Texas, onward to Lake Charles, Louisiana, then return to Harvard.
A faulty instrument forced the pilot to land at Lake Charles airfield. After repairs, the mission continued.
The pilot radioed the base at Barksdale Field, Louisiana, apparently after completing the leg of their assignment, to inform them that he couldn't transfer fuel from the bomb bay mounted fuel tanks, and would need to land to add gasoline to complete the mission. After onboarding more than 3,600 gallons of high-octane fuel, the bomber departed Barksdale field in a southern direction but in a shallow climb. The B-29 struck a tall pine tree nearly two miles beyond the end of the runway and crashed, killing the eleven-man crew. The accident occurred at 04:05 hours, more than 21 hours after the crew departed Harvard field.
Crew:
● CAPT Paul T Dowling, O-438482, SD, Pilot
● 2LT Robert E Powers, O-826285, IL, Co-Pilot
● 2LT Louis M Fueyo, O-772840, FL, Passenger
● 2LT Melvin R Plunkett, O2056636, OH, Passenger
● TSGT Charles F Olsen, 16026540, WI, Flight Engineer
● SGT Cyril T Martin, 13128048, PA, Radio Operator
● CPL Werner F Schmidt, 42092377, NY, Gunner
● PFC Kent A Lentz, 15304304, IN, Gunner
● PFC Harold Newfield, 42062111, NY, Gunner
● PFC Joaquim J "Jack" Ramos Jr , 11141328, MA, Gunner
● PFC John I Nowak, 31410091, CT, Gunner
~
Enlisted December 8, 1943.
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