I am searching for the date when pilot John E. Dougherty ditched a B-29 in the Pacific approx. 120 miles south of Saipan after returning from a long-rage bombing and weather reconnaissance mission.  It was the first B-29 to ditch in which all the crew members survived.

The reason I am interested is because Dougherty told his crew he would land their B-29 in the middle of the Missouri River on August 26, 1944, if they were not given immediate clearance to land at Omaha after experiencing engine failure.  I want to know if his ditching of the B-29 in the Pacific was before or after this incident.  Dougherty had been in combat before and after the Omaha incident. 

Thanks,
Jerry

Hello Again Jerry,

Try the following URL which is a biography on BGen John Dougherty.  Page 2 mentions the B-29 ditching with all crew surviving.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0RBE/is_2004_Annual/ai_n8569700/pg_1?tag=artBody;col1

Hope this helps.

Take care,

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach, England
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Please try this website re: John E. Dougherty and the 500th Bomb Group.
Nancy Samp


http://books.google.com/books?id=ywC7IREmE_IC&pg=PA366&lpg=PA366&dq=%22John+e+Dougherty%22+b29+saipan&source=web&ots=8t8dwfL_BK&sig=67fhNKmqglChX9lPTso9xChuB_I&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=4&ct=result

Daughter of 2nd LT Robert F. Jeffries, Bombardier 505th

See date of mission you requested below for John E. Dougherty.
Nancy Samp

CREW NUMBER                             206
 
CREW MISSIONS
 
AIRCRAFT MISSIONS                   10
 
PILOT AC                                MAJ. JOHN R. VAN TRIGT
 
COPILOT                                 2/LT. HUBERT A BINGHAM, JR.
 
BOMBARDIER                       1/LT. WILLIAM B. MAYES
 
NAVIGATOR                          2/LT. JEROME V. SILVER
 
FLT. ENG.                               2/LT. WILLIAM L. RYALLS         (KIA)
 
RADIO                                     S/SGT. VICTOR W. THOMPSON
 
RING GUN.                             SGT. THOMAS E. McEVOY           (KIA)
 
R. GUN.                                   CPL. FRAZNCIS H. KINDSETH
 
L. GUN.                                   CPL. PETER A. SANCHES
 
RADAR                                   SGT. RAYMOND D. DUGAN
 
TAIL GUN.                              CPL. DICK WOOLF
 
GROUND CREW     M/SGT. CHARLES FAUST (CREW CHIEF)
 
NOTES:  AIRCRAFT ARRIVED ON SAIPAN UNDER COMMAND OF MAJ. JOHN R. VAN TRIGT.
ON 12/29/44 THIS CREW ALONG WITH SENIOR PILOT JOHN E. DOUGHERTY DITCHED
HER NEAR ALAMAGAN ISLAND AFTER A WEATHER MISSION TO TOKYO.  THE CREW ALL
SURVIVED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS CREDITED WITH 10 MISSIONS.

Daughter of 2nd LT Robert F. Jeffries, Bombardier 505th

Thanks for your help!

Jerry