Born 9 March 1917
Died 14 April 1945
First Lieutenant
499th Bomber Group, 878th Bomber Squadron
Aircraft B-29-42 with serialnumber 42-24644 departed from Saipan, Marianas Islands on a combat mission to Tokyo, Japan. The aircraft with eleven crew members was not contacted by radio after the take-off.
T/Sgt Louis T. Vance parachuted from the damaged plane, and had been evacuated to the United States and stated: Enemy fighter fired two bursts into number four engine and vicinity which ignited the engine and also punctured a fuel cell directly behind number four engine. This happened about 1:00 A.M., 14 April 1945. We were flying in a course going from Tokyo to Choski Point. At the time of bailing out we were approximately 40 miles inland. Everyone had ample time to bail out before the ship exploded in mid-air. To my knowledge no one was injured prior to bailing out. Captain Will F. Latimer Jr. and Staff Sergeant Chester A. Johnson Jr. were reported to have been in Tokyo jail.
Crewmembers
Pilot, Capt Will F. Latimer Jr.
Radar Obs., S/Sgt Irvin C. Ellingson
Co-Pilot, 1st Lt Obie Jenkins
Radio Operator, S/Sgt Chester A. Johnson, Jr.
Navigator, 2nd Lt Charles A. Lundevall
Bombardier, 1st Lt Ralph X. Muhlebeck
Engineer, 1st Lt Neal A. Sheridan
Left Gunner, Sgt William W. Sutherland Jr. C.F.C.
Gunner, T/Sgt Louis T. Vance
Tail Gunner, Sgt Walter E. Walk
Right Gunner, Sgt John W. Gunner
- Rank: First Lieutenant
- Date of birth: 9 March 1917
- Date of death: 14 April 1945
- County: Blount
- Hometown: Maryville
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 499th Bomber Group, 878th Bomber Squadron
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Grandview Cemetery, Maryville, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Bottom Panel
- Contact us to sponsor Obie Jenkins
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