Hello List--  Thank you all for this valuble service! I am trying to put together some information for my Dad, Neil McGlennon. He flew B-24 during the war into Italy for 15th AF . New, shiny B-24M a/c. Late in the war he would have made the change to B-29's had circumstances not intervened. Close to the end of the war one of his very good childhood friends from South Orange NJ was shot down in a B-29  on 5 May '45  (MISSON 146 Thunderhead #1).  His unit 73rd Wing, 497th Bomb Group, 871st squadron. Aircraft tail marking  " A SQUARE 56" ..... Radar operator/officer 2nd Lt. Thomas J Croake.     I was hoping someone seeing this message could provide any insight into this incident. My father had learned back in '45 that the crew had been captured and brutally executed, and according to a report I've read this is actually true.  Aircraft A55 saw the plane go in and I was hoping for a response from anyone-- it would be great. I have been scouring the internet and ebay for photos of  "A SQUARE 56"  coming close ... but nothing yet. Locating a photo of the plane and any personal anecdotes about the day would be beyond words. I will present this info to my Dad..and help bring a piece of closure to this action  he still thinks about these great guys (he's one) and I hope this could help others as well rekindle memories. .             
 
With much gratitude to you great AAF Vets and historians,
Timothy McGlennon
West Chester,   Penna.

Timothy -
   By 5 May the tail codes in the 73BW had been switched and A Square 56 was then A 56.  A few things I have on the plane - serial number was 44-69899.  Plane was Unnamed which drastically lowers the probability of a photograph surfacing..
   My notes show that they had lost both #3 and #4 engines with a fire in the wing and the wing breaking off between the two engines.  I also show 7KIA and 4 POW (weak confirmation), MACR 14365
 
Hope this was of help
 
Bob Mann
 

Bob Mann

                      Thank you Bob, I now know 2 more things, A Square becomes  "A" by 5 May. And the wing broke apart  between engines on fire. Were neighboring bombers "wingmen" assigned to watch an aircraft in distress and follow it , using binoculars/film and would that aircraft have been
A55? Also curious about what type of "Tojo" made the multiple passes at A56? Causing the engine fires? I also understand that a plane without some nose art would be a tough one to find a photo of, at this point I would happy with a backgroud static shot or maybe a formation that is tail legible. And of course a photo of the crew A56 including Radar officer Tommy Croake would be a goldmine. Thanks again Bob and list!!  Tim out.    

TO: tjmcglennon-
I emailed you, but wanted to be sure you got the info: I just returned from Japan and from the area where the plane flown by Joseph S McSpradden was shot down. Thre is a shrine there to the airmen who died at the crash site and the four who were rescued by local Japanese and then executed by the government after taken into custody.
The shrine is well tended with fresh greens, incense, and there is a piece of the airplane at the shrine. Every year there is a ceremony with priests (I believe both Shinto and Christian) to commemorate the aircrew's sacrifice.  The plane was shot down by a Japanese "Tony" fighter (244th Sentai?).
 
There is more to this story, if you should like to know about it.
 
At the request of the older man who tends the shrine, I am looking for contact information of the flight crew's families. This man lost his father in the war in China when he was only a year old. He has researched and learned as much as possible of his father's death, but still does not know the exact location. He does not want other people to wonder what happened to their fathers or grandfathers. He expressed shame for the executions carried out by the Japanese governement in 1945.
 
Several years ago he contacted the US Ambassador for help in locating the airmen's families, but I do not think he got very far. He has written a book, which although in Japanese, has pictures of the shrine and details the location.
 
Lisa Klein
lise114@gmail.com

A Sq 56's Web photo
 
TETSUYA from JAPAN 

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The memorial  monument of the B29 A Sq 56 44-69899 crew

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