Navigator 2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. KIA
Hometown: Marshall, Michigan
Squadron: 877th Bomb Sq 499th Bomb Gp
Service# O-696133
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson
Target: Tokyo
Mission Date: 15-Feb-45
Serial Number: #42-65222
Aircraft Model B-29-15-MO Superfortress
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Super Wabbit
Location: Lake Kawaguchi,
Cause: Rammed by kamikaze Ki-45 fighter while on mission over Tokyo, Japan. All eleven crew KIA.
Took off Aslito Field (Isley Field) on Saipan for a bombing mission against Tokyo. Flying in the 2nd element, 2nd position. Clouds covered the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant. Instead, the B-29s bombed the port and urban area of Tokyo. Over the target, they were intercepted by four 53rd Sentai Ki-45 Nicks led by Lt. Aoki over Tokyo Bay. The Ki-45 piloted by Yamada rammed this B-29 from head on while making a steep turn. Observed by other B-29s, the left wingtip folded over and broke off, causing the B-29 to spin twice, break apart and crash. No crew members were seen to bail out. Wreckage Crashed near Lake Kawaguchi, the wreckage was inspected by the Japanese. The bodies of the crew were found at the crash site and buried in a local cemetery. The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to the United States for final burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 235.
Super Wabbit Crew
1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson Pilot
1st/Lt. Ernest J. B. Nelson Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. Navigator
2nd/Lt. Glenn O. Rohden Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Martin L. Forbes Engineer
Sgt. Robert O. Grote Radio Op.
Sgt. Selig H. Bauch Radar Op.
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
Sgt. Clarence E. Den Boer Gunner
Sgt. Luther D. Otto Gunner
Sgt. Martin F. Siltanen Gunner
Hometown: Marshall, Michigan
Squadron: 877th Bomb Sq 499th Bomb Gp
Service# O-696133
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson
Target: Tokyo
Mission Date: 15-Feb-45
Serial Number: #42-65222
Aircraft Model B-29-15-MO Superfortress
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Super Wabbit
Location: Lake Kawaguchi,
Cause: Rammed by kamikaze Ki-45 fighter while on mission over Tokyo, Japan. All eleven crew KIA.
Took off Aslito Field (Isley Field) on Saipan for a bombing mission against Tokyo. Flying in the 2nd element, 2nd position. Clouds covered the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant. Instead, the B-29s bombed the port and urban area of Tokyo. Over the target, they were intercepted by four 53rd Sentai Ki-45 Nicks led by Lt. Aoki over Tokyo Bay. The Ki-45 piloted by Yamada rammed this B-29 from head on while making a steep turn. Observed by other B-29s, the left wingtip folded over and broke off, causing the B-29 to spin twice, break apart and crash. No crew members were seen to bail out. Wreckage Crashed near Lake Kawaguchi, the wreckage was inspected by the Japanese. The bodies of the crew were found at the crash site and buried in a local cemetery. The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to the United States for final burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 235.
Super Wabbit Crew
1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson Pilot
1st/Lt. Ernest J. B. Nelson Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. Navigator
2nd/Lt. Glenn O. Rohden Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Martin L. Forbes Engineer
Sgt. Robert O. Grote Radio Op.
Sgt. Selig H. Bauch Radar Op.
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
Sgt. Clarence E. Den Boer Gunner
Sgt. Luther D. Otto Gunner
Sgt. Martin F. Siltanen Gunner
Navigator 2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. KIA
Hometown: Marshall, Michigan
Squadron: 877th Bomb Sq 499th Bomb Gp
Service# O-696133
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson
Target: Tokyo
Mission Date: 15-Feb-45
Serial Number: #42-65222
Aircraft Model B-29-15-MO Superfortress
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Super Wabbit
Location: Lake Kawaguchi,
Cause: Rammed by kamikaze Ki-45 fighter while on mission over Tokyo, Japan. All eleven crew KIA.
Took off Aslito Field (Isley Field) on Saipan for a bombing mission against Tokyo. Flying in the 2nd element, 2nd position. Clouds covered the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant. Instead, the B-29s bombed the port and urban area of Tokyo. Over the target, they were intercepted by four 53rd Sentai Ki-45 Nicks led by Lt. Aoki over Tokyo Bay. The Ki-45 piloted by Yamada rammed this B-29 from head on while making a steep turn. Observed by other B-29s, the left wingtip folded over and broke off, causing the B-29 to spin twice, break apart and crash. No crew members were seen to bail out. Wreckage Crashed near Lake Kawaguchi, the wreckage was inspected by the Japanese. The bodies of the crew were found at the crash site and buried in a local cemetery. The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to the United States for final burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 235.
Super Wabbit Crew
1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson Pilot
1st/Lt. Ernest J. B. Nelson Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. Navigator
2nd/Lt. Glenn O. Rohden Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Martin L. Forbes Engineer
Sgt. Robert O. Grote Radio Op.
Sgt. Selig H. Bauch Radar Op.
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
Sgt. Clarence E. Den Boer Gunner
Sgt. Luther D. Otto Gunner
Sgt. Martin F. Siltanen Gunner
Hometown: Marshall, Michigan
Squadron: 877th Bomb Sq 499th Bomb Gp
Service# O-696133
Awards: Purple Heart
Pilot 1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson
Target: Tokyo
Mission Date: 15-Feb-45
Serial Number: #42-65222
Aircraft Model B-29-15-MO Superfortress
Aircraft Letter:
Aircraft Name: Super Wabbit
Location: Lake Kawaguchi,
Cause: Rammed by kamikaze Ki-45 fighter while on mission over Tokyo, Japan. All eleven crew KIA.
Took off Aslito Field (Isley Field) on Saipan for a bombing mission against Tokyo. Flying in the 2nd element, 2nd position. Clouds covered the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant. Instead, the B-29s bombed the port and urban area of Tokyo. Over the target, they were intercepted by four 53rd Sentai Ki-45 Nicks led by Lt. Aoki over Tokyo Bay. The Ki-45 piloted by Yamada rammed this B-29 from head on while making a steep turn. Observed by other B-29s, the left wingtip folded over and broke off, causing the B-29 to spin twice, break apart and crash. No crew members were seen to bail out. Wreckage Crashed near Lake Kawaguchi, the wreckage was inspected by the Japanese. The bodies of the crew were found at the crash site and buried in a local cemetery. The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to the United States for final burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery at section 82 site 235.
Super Wabbit Crew
1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson Pilot
1st/Lt. Ernest J. B. Nelson Co Pilot
2nd/Lt. William S. Nelson Jr. Navigator
2nd/Lt. Glenn O. Rohden Bombardier
2nd/Lt. Martin L. Forbes Engineer
Sgt. Robert O. Grote Radio Op.
Sgt. Selig H. Bauch Radar Op.
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
S/Sgt. Robert F. Lee Gunner
Sgt. Clarence E. Den Boer Gunner
Sgt. Luther D. Otto Gunner
Sgt. Martin F. Siltanen Gunner
Inscription
2LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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