Robert served as a Corporal and Tailgunner on B-29 #42-65305, 6th Bomber Squadron, 29th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in New York prior to the war.
B-29 #42-65305 was part of a mission sent out on May 5, 1945 when "55" B-29's bombed airfields at Oita, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran on Kyushu. "2" other B-29's also attacked targets of opportunity. Three B-29's were lost on this mission ( see below ).
B-29 #42-65305 took off, with a crew of "11", from the North Field in Guam to bomb the Tachiarai Airfield in Kyushu, Japan. After a successful attack on their target they were in the process of turning to head back to Guam.
They were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and also attacked by Japanese Fighter aircraft and their #4 engine caught fire causing the pilot, 1st Lt. Watkins, to signal to the crew to bailout.
1st Lt. Watkins noted that 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, and Corp. Colehower met with him on the ground and they were all captured by the Japanese Army. He had no knowledge of the status of the remaining "6" crew members. Their B-29 ended up crashing 15 miles inland from Tomitaka, Japan at the foot of a mountain.
1st Lt. Watkins was sent to Tokyo and tortured, but survived the War. 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, Corp. Colehower, Corp.Williams, and Corp. Czarnecki were all sent to the Department of Anatomy, Kyushu Imperial University, Fukuoka, Japan.
At the Kyushu Imperial University all "6" of them were subjected to a "vivisection" ( the practice of performing operations for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research ) and they all "6" died from those operations.
Robert was basically "executed" by the Japanese Army by them performing a "vivisection" on him "28" days after his B-29 crashed on May 5, 1945.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Service # 32494663
His remains were never recovered.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-29 #42-65305:
Colehower, John C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, PA
Czarnecki, Leon E. ~ Corp, Gunner, NJ
Fredericks, William R. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Johnson, Robert C. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, PA ~ (KIA)
Kearns, Charles M., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY ~ (KIA)
Oeinck, Leo C. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, NY ~ (KIA)
Plambeck, Dale E. ~ 2nd Lt, Radar Operator, NE
Ponczka, Teddy J. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, PA
Shingledecker, Howard T. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, PA ~ (KIA)
Williams, Robert B. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, NY
Note: (KIA) = Killed in the crash of their B-29.
The only survivor from this B-29 was the Pilot ~ 1st Lt. Marvin S. Watkins, who was released by the Japanese at the end of the war.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B-29's lost in this mission:
B-29 #42-65305
~ ~ ( "6" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ ( Listed Above )
B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ " Click Here "
B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ " Click Here "
( Crew Reports by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in New York prior to the war.
B-29 #42-65305 was part of a mission sent out on May 5, 1945 when "55" B-29's bombed airfields at Oita, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran on Kyushu. "2" other B-29's also attacked targets of opportunity. Three B-29's were lost on this mission ( see below ).
B-29 #42-65305 took off, with a crew of "11", from the North Field in Guam to bomb the Tachiarai Airfield in Kyushu, Japan. After a successful attack on their target they were in the process of turning to head back to Guam.
They were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and also attacked by Japanese Fighter aircraft and their #4 engine caught fire causing the pilot, 1st Lt. Watkins, to signal to the crew to bailout.
1st Lt. Watkins noted that 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, and Corp. Colehower met with him on the ground and they were all captured by the Japanese Army. He had no knowledge of the status of the remaining "6" crew members. Their B-29 ended up crashing 15 miles inland from Tomitaka, Japan at the foot of a mountain.
1st Lt. Watkins was sent to Tokyo and tortured, but survived the War. 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, Corp. Colehower, Corp.Williams, and Corp. Czarnecki were all sent to the Department of Anatomy, Kyushu Imperial University, Fukuoka, Japan.
At the Kyushu Imperial University all "6" of them were subjected to a "vivisection" ( the practice of performing operations for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research ) and they all "6" died from those operations.
Robert was basically "executed" by the Japanese Army by them performing a "vivisection" on him "28" days after his B-29 crashed on May 5, 1945.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Service # 32494663
His remains were never recovered.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-29 #42-65305:
Colehower, John C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, PA
Czarnecki, Leon E. ~ Corp, Gunner, NJ
Fredericks, William R. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Johnson, Robert C. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, PA ~ (KIA)
Kearns, Charles M., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY ~ (KIA)
Oeinck, Leo C. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, NY ~ (KIA)
Plambeck, Dale E. ~ 2nd Lt, Radar Operator, NE
Ponczka, Teddy J. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, PA
Shingledecker, Howard T. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, PA ~ (KIA)
Williams, Robert B. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, NY
Note: (KIA) = Killed in the crash of their B-29.
The only survivor from this B-29 was the Pilot ~ 1st Lt. Marvin S. Watkins, who was released by the Japanese at the end of the war.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B-29's lost in this mission:
B-29 #42-65305
~ ~ ( "6" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ ( Listed Above )
B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ " Click Here "
B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ " Click Here "
( Crew Reports by: Russ Pickett )
Robert served as a Corporal and Tailgunner on B-29 #42-65305, 6th Bomber Squadron, 29th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in New York prior to the war.
B-29 #42-65305 was part of a mission sent out on May 5, 1945 when "55" B-29's bombed airfields at Oita, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran on Kyushu. "2" other B-29's also attacked targets of opportunity. Three B-29's were lost on this mission ( see below ).
B-29 #42-65305 took off, with a crew of "11", from the North Field in Guam to bomb the Tachiarai Airfield in Kyushu, Japan. After a successful attack on their target they were in the process of turning to head back to Guam.
They were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and also attacked by Japanese Fighter aircraft and their #4 engine caught fire causing the pilot, 1st Lt. Watkins, to signal to the crew to bailout.
1st Lt. Watkins noted that 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, and Corp. Colehower met with him on the ground and they were all captured by the Japanese Army. He had no knowledge of the status of the remaining "6" crew members. Their B-29 ended up crashing 15 miles inland from Tomitaka, Japan at the foot of a mountain.
1st Lt. Watkins was sent to Tokyo and tortured, but survived the War. 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, Corp. Colehower, Corp.Williams, and Corp. Czarnecki were all sent to the Department of Anatomy, Kyushu Imperial University, Fukuoka, Japan.
At the Kyushu Imperial University all "6" of them were subjected to a "vivisection" ( the practice of performing operations for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research ) and they all "6" died from those operations.
Robert was basically "executed" by the Japanese Army by them performing a "vivisection" on him "28" days after his B-29 crashed on May 5, 1945.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Service # 32494663
His remains were never recovered.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-29 #42-65305:
Colehower, John C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, PA
Czarnecki, Leon E. ~ Corp, Gunner, NJ
Fredericks, William R. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Johnson, Robert C. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, PA ~ (KIA)
Kearns, Charles M., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY ~ (KIA)
Oeinck, Leo C. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, NY ~ (KIA)
Plambeck, Dale E. ~ 2nd Lt, Radar Operator, NE
Ponczka, Teddy J. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, PA
Shingledecker, Howard T. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, PA ~ (KIA)
Williams, Robert B. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, NY
Note: (KIA) = Killed in the crash of their B-29.
The only survivor from this B-29 was the Pilot ~ 1st Lt. Marvin S. Watkins, who was released by the Japanese at the end of the war.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B-29's lost in this mission:
B-29 #42-65305
~ ~ ( "6" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ ( Listed Above )
B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ " Click Here "
B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ " Click Here "
( Crew Reports by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in New York prior to the war.
B-29 #42-65305 was part of a mission sent out on May 5, 1945 when "55" B-29's bombed airfields at Oita, Tachiarai, Kanoya, and Chiran on Kyushu. "2" other B-29's also attacked targets of opportunity. Three B-29's were lost on this mission ( see below ).
B-29 #42-65305 took off, with a crew of "11", from the North Field in Guam to bomb the Tachiarai Airfield in Kyushu, Japan. After a successful attack on their target they were in the process of turning to head back to Guam.
They were hit by ground anti-aircraft fire and also attacked by Japanese Fighter aircraft and their #4 engine caught fire causing the pilot, 1st Lt. Watkins, to signal to the crew to bailout.
1st Lt. Watkins noted that 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, and Corp. Colehower met with him on the ground and they were all captured by the Japanese Army. He had no knowledge of the status of the remaining "6" crew members. Their B-29 ended up crashing 15 miles inland from Tomitaka, Japan at the foot of a mountain.
1st Lt. Watkins was sent to Tokyo and tortured, but survived the War. 2nd Lt. Fredericks, 2nd Lt. Plambeck, S/Sgt. Plonczak, Corp. Colehower, Corp.Williams, and Corp. Czarnecki were all sent to the Department of Anatomy, Kyushu Imperial University, Fukuoka, Japan.
At the Kyushu Imperial University all "6" of them were subjected to a "vivisection" ( the practice of performing operations for the purpose of experimentation or scientific research ) and they all "6" died from those operations.
Robert was basically "executed" by the Japanese Army by them performing a "vivisection" on him "28" days after his B-29 crashed on May 5, 1945.
He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal, Air Medal, and the Purple Heart.
Service # 32494663
His remains were never recovered.
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished from B-29 #42-65305:
Colehower, John C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, PA
Czarnecki, Leon E. ~ Corp, Gunner, NJ
Fredericks, William R. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, NJ
Johnson, Robert C. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, PA ~ (KIA)
Kearns, Charles M., Jr. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NY ~ (KIA)
Oeinck, Leo C. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, NY ~ (KIA)
Plambeck, Dale E. ~ 2nd Lt, Radar Operator, NE
Ponczka, Teddy J. ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, PA
Shingledecker, Howard T. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, PA ~ (KIA)
Williams, Robert B. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, NY
Note: (KIA) = Killed in the crash of their B-29.
The only survivor from this B-29 was the Pilot ~ 1st Lt. Marvin S. Watkins, who was released by the Japanese at the end of the war.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
B-29's lost in this mission:
B-29 #42-65305
~ ~ ( "6" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ ( Listed Above )
B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #42-93953
~ ~ " Click Here "
B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ ( "4" were "executed " while POW's )
~ ~ To see those lost on B-29 #44-69899
~ ~ " Click Here "
( Crew Reports by: Russ Pickett )
Inscription
6th Bomb Sq 29th Bomb Group [HV]
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from New York.
Family Members
Other Records
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