B-29 pilot killed

Hi, my new project is researching a guy who was killed July 24, 1945 only in combat 5 months. With the 20th airforce 58th wing 444th bomb group 677th bomb squadron. He spent most of the war training and training others before being sent overseas. What I was hoping for is the name of the plane he was on or serial number. His last mission was over Osaku, Japan on a flight that had already logged 8+ hours in the air. I have searced around for web sites for names and serial numbers of aircraft but have found none. The site for the 444th is alright but, not the best. I am hoping to trek the final hours of the flights route and what became of the aircraft since it was roughly a month and a half away from Japans surrender. All info is appreciated. I have everything of his military service and personnel file. His niece is sending me photo's of him. I am planning to send her a nice record of her uncle's service for Christmas I hope. Thanks

 

The last MACR for the 444th is from 5 June 45. Was he killed on an aircraft that returned to base?

 

No, he was killed over target. I was told that there was a propaganda film done by the Japanese showing his plane but have yet to see it surface. He was originally reported missing a report done in late '45 had him listed as killed. His family didn't start recieving letters from the war dept until 1946 about the loss.

 

Are you confident of the date? No Missing Aircrew Report was filed for any loss on that date (doesn't mean it didn't happen, but it is unusual). I assume you are reluctant to post the name?

Without an MACR, the only way I know to find information on the a/c involved would be to get a copy of the mission folder (held by the National Archives) - not likely by Christmas.

I tried to paste a link directly, but it wouldn't work. Go here:
Archival Research Catalog (ARC) of the National Archives
and search for: world war ii mission folders
to get this:


World War II Combat Operations Reports, compiled 1941 - 1946

 

His name was James R. Price. One report says that he was killed July 24, 1945 another states that he was killed August 11, 1945. My main goal is to find the name of the plane he flew on he was a co-pilot.

 

There is a record for a James R Price in the American Battle Monuments Registry here:
http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/userimages/HunselRCCY.JPG
with the following information:
James R. Price. ID: 0-703015
Entered the Service From: California
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 31st Bomber Squadron, 5th Bomber Group, Heavy
Died: Wednesday, February 27, 1946
Memorialized at: Manila American Cemetery
Location: Fort Bonifacio, Manila, Philippines
Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Is this the right man? Note date of death, perhaps someone can clarify further?
Edit: One further entry but seems less likely to be your man is
James R. Price
ID: 36109002
Entered the Service From: Michigan
Rank: Private
Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 7th Material Squadron, 5th Air Base Group
Died: Wednesday, January 24, 1945
Memorialized at: Honolulu Memorial
Location: Honolulu, HI, USA
Awards: Purple Heart

Alternatively, you may be able to recognise your chap from the ABMC records.
Hope this helps

 

Sorry Icare9 but this is'nt the guy he is from Cincinnati and enlisted in Cincinnati and was with the 20th air force. Thanks for trying.

 

44-70132 is the serial number of the plane. It went down into Osaku bay after bombing the Kempai Tai HQ. Suffered direct flak hit at Handu. He was based at Tinian. I am posting what I found on the web they have his name spelled wrong at the bottom hopefully they will have it fixed soon. My question is how do I find the name given to their B-29 or what if any art work looked like? I am meeting a family member of Seymore in a couple of weeks hopefully I will get some light shed on the subject.
The one B-29 lost:
44-70132 444th BG, MACR 14792, Seymore Crew. Shot down in Osaka Bay while bombing the target (Mission 284) Shumitomo Metal Factory, Osaka. 10 KIA, 1 POW/executed:
KIA: 1st Lt. Wendell D. Copeland
1st Lt. Willard L. Hierman
Cpl. Adrian N. Wiseman
1st Lt. Robert Y. Seymore
1st Lt. Walter L. Wilson
Cpl. Kenneth L. Markis
Cpl. Lawrence Lattmori
Cpl. George McCroy
Cpl. Arthur R. Macbeth
Cpl. Philip Nagomn
POW/executed: 2nd Lt. James R. Prior. Moved to Osaka Kempei Tai Headquarters and poisoned because of his fatal wounds.

 

The only two I can find any reference for are:-
Walter L. Wilson
BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN Lake City, IA
HONORED BY Mrs. Pauline N. Donaldson, Wife
ACTIVITY DURING WWII FLIGHT ENGINEER ON B-29.
RECEIVED A DIRECT HIT OVER OSAKA BAY, JAPAN. JULY 24, 1945.

Wendell D. Copeland
BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN Block, TN
HONORED BY Jane F. Snyder, Sister-in-law
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
STATIONED IN TINIAN.
KILLED IN A RAID OVER OSAKA SHORTLY BEFORE END OF WAR.

Wendell D. Copeland
BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Army Air Forces
HOMETOWN Block, TN
HONORED BY Mrs. Theodosia S. Smithson, Wife
ACTIVITY DURING WWII
SERVED AS NAVIGATOR ON A B-29; TINIAN.

I don't know of any US site similar to our CWGC that lists WW2 dead other than the American Battle Monuments Commission. That seems to rely on relatives etc posting them as Honorees.
If there is a more official site, please post up the details.

 

This MACR is missing from the index, which is why I didn't find it by date.

Per the MACR, the ship had no name. Since it had no name, it proably did not have nose art either. It would have carried standard markings for the 677th squadron, and possibly a 'battle number', but that is not listed in the report.

 

mcoffee thanks for the info. It is greatly appreciated. I had a feeling that there was going to be no name or artwork. Is this because they were a new crew?

 

Go to www.footnote.com

Register and search for the MACR for Wendell Copeland...it is available as free content.

The 444th web site has a brief reference to the plane as well.

 

Thanks for the info. Making the final approach on this project. This will show his life from the pre-war day's to his death. Osaka University is helping me with what happened to his b-29 it turns out some of it lies in the bay still. The rest was used for much needed scrap. There is a report by the army stating he was alive but died of wounds. The Japanese govt. does not show this. Either way at the end of the war his body or what his parents believed was his body was returned home. I have been in contact with the eyewitness to the plane going down and have begun contacting some of the crews family to see what happened to their loved ones remains. I appreciate all the help recieved from you all and the Japanese people.