There is a MACR 10911 for 42-24658 "Wugged Wascal" from the 499th BG, 877th BS, based on Saipan. It contains very little information. The plane was returning from a mission to Tokyo. On 9 Jan 44 at 9:08 Z last radio contact was reported. Location 25-30N, 146-30E. "Aircraft ditched in the ocean as a result of operational difficulties." Weather at time of loss is given as 4/10 altocumulous: base estimated at 24,000', tops 25,000', 6/10 Cumulus 800-1,000'. tops 7,000'.
Crew List:
Pilot: Capt Kimmel P Murphy, O-406428.
Co-Pilot: 2 Lt Thomas G Papoli O-759654
Nav: 1st Paul H Elkins O-739018
Bomb: 2nd Lt Joseph H McQuestion O-777900
Flt Eng: 2nd Lt Murray Karron O-868393
RO: Cpl Edgar N Rother 32831322
Radar O: S/Sgt John S Downey 35741224
Lt Gun -(CFC): Sgt Walter L Bartram, Jr 33506700
Rt Gun -(Elec Specl): Sgt Robert H Lupton 39126756
Top Gun (Gun): Sgt Irvin D Milligan 39560362
Tail Gun: Sgt Ralph H Taylor 34645453
Entire crew DED on 10 Jan 46 (Declaration of Death a year and 1 day after crash).
Search Info: Douglas C Northrup, Lt Col, O-393187.
Search started 1000 K 10 Jan 1945 to be continued until darkness or
limited endurance of aircraft. Search will continue on subsequent
days as long as the 73rd Bomb Wing permits.
The next of kin page contains one more name, listed as "passenger" on a separate page.
Capt Thomas J Shryock III O-671182 ?? (number is blurred).
http://www.fold3.com/image/#271600254 There is a memorial page on fold3.com for Thomas G Papoli.
http://www.fold3.com/image/#271600255 Born in 1920 at Pennsylvania. Enlisted as a Private in the Army Air Corps on 18 July 1942 at Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Completed primary flight training and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Forces. Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field, Kansas. In September 1944, deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 877th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands. On 9 January 1945, he flew in the right seat as a Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress nicknamed “Wugged Wascal” (Serial #42-24658) Tail Code: V-Square-3. It was one of 72 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the Musashino Aircraft Works and Nakajima Aircraft Engine Factory near Tokyo, Japan. After the bomb run, his aircraft was last contacted by radio at a geographic location of 25 degrees +30 minutes North and 146 degrees +30minutes East; stating that they were having “operational difficulties.” He was killed when his aircraft was forced to ditch in the ocean approximately 250 miles east of Iwo Jima. The next day a B-17 “Dumbo” search and rescue plane was dispatched to the area, but no wreckage or survivors were ever found. He was declared KIA one year later.
Similar info as above is here:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=pv&GRid=56119441 It looks like there are memorial pages for several the crew members, created by SePennartz. Here is a link to Kimmel P Murphy's page. They give a little background on the person, then repeat the information on the loss of V Square 3.
http://www.fold3.com/page/84739398_kimmel_p_murphy/
post edited by RSwank -