Aircraft Commander Major Jack B. Riley, O-393200 (MIA / KIA) Santa Monica, CA
Co-Pilot Lt. William G. "Billy" Weber, O-813621 (MIA / KIA) GA
Bombardier Lt. J.G. Kelly, O-667303 (MIA / KIA) Chicago, IL
Navigator Capt. Walter W. Homer, O-432164 (MIA / KIA) NB
Engineer Lt. Ralph E. Worthington, O-864101 (MIA / KIA) Hobart, IN
Right Gunner Cpl. Alfred J. English, 34674889 (MIA / KIA) Rocky Mount, NC
Radio Sgt. William R. Bass, 18180265 (MIA / KIA) Denison, TX
Left Gunner Cpl. James J. Dannaher, 11095138 (MIA / KIA) Hartford, CT
Central Fire Control Sgt. Carl J. Trulove, 39387393 (MIA / KIA) Albany, OR
Tail Gunner Cpl George R. Ellis, 42103564 (MIA / KIA) NJ
Crashed March 24, 1945
MACR 13380
Aircraft History
Built by Martin-Omaha. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-29-20-MO Superfortress serial number 42-65241.
Wartime History
Assigned to the 20th Air Force, 504th Bombardment Group, 398th Bombardment Squadron. Assigned to Major Jack B. Riley. Nicknamed "The Life of Riley" after Riley in Kansas prior to ferrying the bomber overseas to Tinian. When lost engines R-3350-23A serial numbers 42-121127, DW-201554, DW-202029 and DW-201726.
Mission History
On March 24, 1945 took off from North
Field (Runway No. 1) on Tinian piloted by Major Jack B. Riley on a bombing mission over Nagoya. After dropping their bombs, the B-29 reported by radio their position to be 28 miles southeast of Guguan with "engine on fire" and "we'll keep you informed". The radio message was heard by another B-29 and a ground station on Tinian. When this bomber failed to return it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).
Search
After being reported missing, the 313th Bomb Wing's Air & Sea Rescue searched for this B-29, without result.
Memorials
The entire crew was officially declared dead the day of the mission. All are memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl).
Relatives
Kenneth Moore (nephew of Weber)
Patricia Lane (widow of Weber)
References
USAF Serial Number Search Results - B-29-20-MO Superfortress 42-65241
"65241 (504th BG 398th BS) crashed on Alamagan Island, Marianas due to engine fire Mar 24, 1945 while returning from mission to Mitsubishi aircraft engine plant at Nagoya, Japan. MACR 13380. All 10 crew killed."
MACR 13380 (MACR 13380)
Moores Marauders "Finding The Life of Riley" claims this bomber was on a solo top secret mission to bomb Pagan Airfield. During 1998, Moore traveled to Alamagan Island and reportedly found
a seat, several radios, a Browning M-2 50-caliber machine gun and a Gibson Girl were found underwater in the lagoon. According to this webpage, the weapon serial numbers were illegible, but six of the eight serial numbers off the radios were legible. So too were those on one of the engines.
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Last Updated
February 18, 2020
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