Aircraft Commander of B-29-20-BA Superfortress #42-63494. Shot down by enemy Ki-61 fighter over Tokyo. 9 crew killed, 2 bailed out and became POWs.
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George Cornelius Rouse Jr. was named after his father, he was married at the time of his death. He was born in Volusia County, Daytona Beach Florida. His mother was Ethel Alma (Wheeler) Rouse. His brother Vernon H. Rouse also served in WWII. He left behind sisters Vernette E. (Rouse) Grayson, and Jacqueline Rouse.
He enlisted on December 26, 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida as a Private with the Air Corps. He died with his crew on the day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. His final mission was based out of Isley Field, Saipan in the Marianna Islands. Brigadier General Henry Huglin was the group Commander who lead the group on 17 of their 75 bombing and mining missions, (comprising more than 2,000 sorites of 3,000 miles each in the war against Japan.
George was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) until 1949
Their target was the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Which is now Fuji Heavy industry which today is manufacturing the brand automobile: SUBARU
Nakajima Aircraft Co. factory assembled engines and other components for Japanese military aircraft, including the well-known Zero fighter.
There were two factories owned by Nakajima Aircraft Company. Their squadron was to strike both of them, one was located at Ota.
Mission 37, February 19, 1945
B-29-15-MO called "Super Wabbit" Serial Number #42-65222, Tail V-49 was also involved in this incident. HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion; thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 bomb the port and urban area of Tokyo; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" #42-65222 and #42-24692 called 'Z-31', Rouse's aircraft.
Japanese Cpl. Tomonobu Matsueda brought down Z-31 flown by 2nd Lt. George C. Rouse Jr., part of a force attacking Masushino. The bomber crashed into a primary school in the Tokyo suburb of Shinjuku. Two airmen escaped by parachute. Sgt. Edward H. McGrath and Sgt. Lee M. Johnston; surviving the war as POW's and liberated after the war ended.
Matsueda had attacked Lt. Rouse's B-29 repeatedly until it broke up in the air, by which time his Hien had been hit by return fire and he was forced to make a crash landing on an Army parade ground at Shibuya.
From there Tomonobu ran to the crash site of the B-29 and identified himself as the pilot who had shot it down. Matsueda was subsequently killed on April 7, 1945, perhaps too intent on another B-29 victory for he was reportedly shot down by a P-51.
Attack on Nakajima Aircraft Musashi Seisakusho caused damage to a fragment of #42-24692 causing the fateful accident. The aircraft crashed in Nishihara Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The nose of the aircraft landed on Omoto Katsuharu Hospital and also crashed on the roof of the seventh national school in Hanazono-cho, Yotsuya-ku.
Sergeant Johnston and Sergeant McGrath, who landed behind the 6th Air Force Command in Hayabusacho, Kojimachi-ku, were detained by a Kojimachi police officer and sent to Tokyo Kempei Tai Command as a Prisoner of War (POW). Both returned home after the war.
Three bodies were recovered at Sendagaya crash site and are buried at Sendagaya 3-chome Enmeiji cemetery, and five bodies were found at Shinjuku are buried at Tama cemetery. George's physical remains were buried in Tama, Japan.
There is a monument to dedicated to the crew at a Buddhist Temple in Akizuma, Japan.
~
George Cornelius Rouse Jr. was named after his father, he was married at the time of his death. He was born in Volusia County, Daytona Beach Florida. His mother was Ethel Alma (Wheeler) Rouse. His brother Vernon H. Rouse also served in WWII. He left behind sisters Vernette E. (Rouse) Grayson, and Jacqueline Rouse.
He enlisted on December 26, 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida as a Private with the Air Corps. He died with his crew on the day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. His final mission was based out of Isley Field, Saipan in the Marianna Islands. Brigadier General Henry Huglin was the group Commander who lead the group on 17 of their 75 bombing and mining missions, (comprising more than 2,000 sorites of 3,000 miles each in the war against Japan.
George was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) until 1949
Their target was the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Which is now Fuji Heavy industry which today is manufacturing the brand automobile: SUBARU
Nakajima Aircraft Co. factory assembled engines and other components for Japanese military aircraft, including the well-known Zero fighter.
There were two factories owned by Nakajima Aircraft Company. Their squadron was to strike both of them, one was located at Ota.
Mission 37, February 19, 1945
B-29-15-MO called "Super Wabbit" Serial Number #42-65222, Tail V-49 was also involved in this incident. HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion; thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 bomb the port and urban area of Tokyo; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" #42-65222 and #42-24692 called 'Z-31', Rouse's aircraft.
Japanese Cpl. Tomonobu Matsueda brought down Z-31 flown by 2nd Lt. George C. Rouse Jr., part of a force attacking Masushino. The bomber crashed into a primary school in the Tokyo suburb of Shinjuku. Two airmen escaped by parachute. Sgt. Edward H. McGrath and Sgt. Lee M. Johnston; surviving the war as POW's and liberated after the war ended.
Matsueda had attacked Lt. Rouse's B-29 repeatedly until it broke up in the air, by which time his Hien had been hit by return fire and he was forced to make a crash landing on an Army parade ground at Shibuya.
From there Tomonobu ran to the crash site of the B-29 and identified himself as the pilot who had shot it down. Matsueda was subsequently killed on April 7, 1945, perhaps too intent on another B-29 victory for he was reportedly shot down by a P-51.
Attack on Nakajima Aircraft Musashi Seisakusho caused damage to a fragment of #42-24692 causing the fateful accident. The aircraft crashed in Nishihara Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The nose of the aircraft landed on Omoto Katsuharu Hospital and also crashed on the roof of the seventh national school in Hanazono-cho, Yotsuya-ku.
Sergeant Johnston and Sergeant McGrath, who landed behind the 6th Air Force Command in Hayabusacho, Kojimachi-ku, were detained by a Kojimachi police officer and sent to Tokyo Kempei Tai Command as a Prisoner of War (POW). Both returned home after the war.
Three bodies were recovered at Sendagaya crash site and are buried at Sendagaya 3-chome Enmeiji cemetery, and five bodies were found at Shinjuku are buried at Tama cemetery. George's physical remains were buried in Tama, Japan.
There is a monument to dedicated to the crew at a Buddhist Temple in Akizuma, Japan.
Aircraft Commander of B-29-20-BA Superfortress #42-63494. Shot down by enemy Ki-61 fighter over Tokyo. 9 crew killed, 2 bailed out and became POWs.
~
George Cornelius Rouse Jr. was named after his father, he was married at the time of his death. He was born in Volusia County, Daytona Beach Florida. His mother was Ethel Alma (Wheeler) Rouse. His brother Vernon H. Rouse also served in WWII. He left behind sisters Vernette E. (Rouse) Grayson, and Jacqueline Rouse.
He enlisted on December 26, 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida as a Private with the Air Corps. He died with his crew on the day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. His final mission was based out of Isley Field, Saipan in the Marianna Islands. Brigadier General Henry Huglin was the group Commander who lead the group on 17 of their 75 bombing and mining missions, (comprising more than 2,000 sorites of 3,000 miles each in the war against Japan.
George was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) until 1949
Their target was the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Which is now Fuji Heavy industry which today is manufacturing the brand automobile: SUBARU
Nakajima Aircraft Co. factory assembled engines and other components for Japanese military aircraft, including the well-known Zero fighter.
There were two factories owned by Nakajima Aircraft Company. Their squadron was to strike both of them, one was located at Ota.
Mission 37, February 19, 1945
B-29-15-MO called "Super Wabbit" Serial Number #42-65222, Tail V-49 was also involved in this incident. HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion; thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 bomb the port and urban area of Tokyo; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" #42-65222 and #42-24692 called 'Z-31', Rouse's aircraft.
Japanese Cpl. Tomonobu Matsueda brought down Z-31 flown by 2nd Lt. George C. Rouse Jr., part of a force attacking Masushino. The bomber crashed into a primary school in the Tokyo suburb of Shinjuku. Two airmen escaped by parachute. Sgt. Edward H. McGrath and Sgt. Lee M. Johnston; surviving the war as POW's and liberated after the war ended.
Matsueda had attacked Lt. Rouse's B-29 repeatedly until it broke up in the air, by which time his Hien had been hit by return fire and he was forced to make a crash landing on an Army parade ground at Shibuya.
From there Tomonobu ran to the crash site of the B-29 and identified himself as the pilot who had shot it down. Matsueda was subsequently killed on April 7, 1945, perhaps too intent on another B-29 victory for he was reportedly shot down by a P-51.
Attack on Nakajima Aircraft Musashi Seisakusho caused damage to a fragment of #42-24692 causing the fateful accident. The aircraft crashed in Nishihara Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The nose of the aircraft landed on Omoto Katsuharu Hospital and also crashed on the roof of the seventh national school in Hanazono-cho, Yotsuya-ku.
Sergeant Johnston and Sergeant McGrath, who landed behind the 6th Air Force Command in Hayabusacho, Kojimachi-ku, were detained by a Kojimachi police officer and sent to Tokyo Kempei Tai Command as a Prisoner of War (POW). Both returned home after the war.
Three bodies were recovered at Sendagaya crash site and are buried at Sendagaya 3-chome Enmeiji cemetery, and five bodies were found at Shinjuku are buried at Tama cemetery. George's physical remains were buried in Tama, Japan.
There is a monument to dedicated to the crew at a Buddhist Temple in Akizuma, Japan.
~
George Cornelius Rouse Jr. was named after his father, he was married at the time of his death. He was born in Volusia County, Daytona Beach Florida. His mother was Ethel Alma (Wheeler) Rouse. His brother Vernon H. Rouse also served in WWII. He left behind sisters Vernette E. (Rouse) Grayson, and Jacqueline Rouse.
He enlisted on December 26, 1941 at Jacksonville, Florida as a Private with the Air Corps. He died with his crew on the day of the invasion of Iwo Jima. His final mission was based out of Isley Field, Saipan in the Marianna Islands. Brigadier General Henry Huglin was the group Commander who lead the group on 17 of their 75 bombing and mining missions, (comprising more than 2,000 sorites of 3,000 miles each in the war against Japan.
George was listed as Missing In Action (MIA) until 1949
Their target was the Nakajima Aircraft Company. Which is now Fuji Heavy industry which today is manufacturing the brand automobile: SUBARU
Nakajima Aircraft Co. factory assembled engines and other components for Japanese military aircraft, including the well-known Zero fighter.
There were two factories owned by Nakajima Aircraft Company. Their squadron was to strike both of them, one was located at Ota.
Mission 37, February 19, 1945
B-29-15-MO called "Super Wabbit" Serial Number #42-65222, Tail V-49 was also involved in this incident. HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 37: 150 B-29s are dispatched to hit the Musashino aircraft plant in Tokyo hoping to draw air reinforcements away from the Iwo Jima invasion; thick clouds completely cover the primary target so 119 bomb the port and urban area of Tokyo; 12 others hit targets of last resort and targets of opportunity; they claim 39-16-37 Japanese aircraft; 6 B-29s are lost including B-29 "Super Wabbit" #42-65222 and #42-24692 called 'Z-31', Rouse's aircraft.
Japanese Cpl. Tomonobu Matsueda brought down Z-31 flown by 2nd Lt. George C. Rouse Jr., part of a force attacking Masushino. The bomber crashed into a primary school in the Tokyo suburb of Shinjuku. Two airmen escaped by parachute. Sgt. Edward H. McGrath and Sgt. Lee M. Johnston; surviving the war as POW's and liberated after the war ended.
Matsueda had attacked Lt. Rouse's B-29 repeatedly until it broke up in the air, by which time his Hien had been hit by return fire and he was forced to make a crash landing on an Army parade ground at Shibuya.
From there Tomonobu ran to the crash site of the B-29 and identified himself as the pilot who had shot it down. Matsueda was subsequently killed on April 7, 1945, perhaps too intent on another B-29 victory for he was reportedly shot down by a P-51.
Attack on Nakajima Aircraft Musashi Seisakusho caused damage to a fragment of #42-24692 causing the fateful accident. The aircraft crashed in Nishihara Village, Yamanashi Prefecture. The nose of the aircraft landed on Omoto Katsuharu Hospital and also crashed on the roof of the seventh national school in Hanazono-cho, Yotsuya-ku.
Sergeant Johnston and Sergeant McGrath, who landed behind the 6th Air Force Command in Hayabusacho, Kojimachi-ku, were detained by a Kojimachi police officer and sent to Tokyo Kempei Tai Command as a Prisoner of War (POW). Both returned home after the war.
Three bodies were recovered at Sendagaya crash site and are buried at Sendagaya 3-chome Enmeiji cemetery, and five bodies were found at Shinjuku are buried at Tama cemetery. George's physical remains were buried in Tama, Japan.
There is a monument to dedicated to the crew at a Buddhist Temple in Akizuma, Japan.
Inscription
1LT, 882 AAF BOMB SQ, 500 BOMB GP WORLD WAR II
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