C O N F I D E N T I A L
MISSING AIR CREW REPORT
678th Bombardment Squadron
APO #247 c/o Postmaster
San Francisco, California Original - Supplemental
(Unit) (Cross out word not applicable)
1. ORGANIZATION: Location, by Name Tinian,
Marianas; Command or Air Force XXI B.C.;
Group 444th Bomb Gp; Squadron 678th Bomb Sq
2. SPECIFY: Place of departure West Field, Tinian.
Course 116o Target to lands End.
Target or Intended Destination: Kobe, Japan Type of Mission Combat
3. WEATHER CONDITIONS AND VISIBILITY AT TIME OF
CRASH OR WHEN LAST REPORTED: Clear visibility, weather - good.
4. GIVE: (a) Day 5 Month June Year 1945 Time 2342Z
and Location 34o 19'N 136o 32' E of last seen whereabouts of missing
aircraft.
5. AIRPLANE WAS LOST, OR IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN
LOST, AS RESULT OF: (Check only one): Enemy Aircraft ( ); Enemy
Anti-Aircraft (x); Other circumstances as follows: None
6. AIRPLANE: Type, Model and Series B-29-16-BA ;
AAF Serial Number 42-63451
7. NICKNAME OF AIRCRAFT, If any Black Jack, too
10. THE PERSONS LISTED BELOW ARE RECORDED AS: (a)
Battle Casualty Battle Casualty
11. NUMBER OF PERSONS ABOARD AIRCRAFT: Crew 11;
Passengers None
Name in Full Home
Crew Position (last name First) Rank Town Status
1. Airplane Com. Palmer, Woodrow B. 1st Lt. Buda,
Tx. KIA while POW
2. Pilot Walls, Owen P. 2nd Lt Renton, Wa. KIA while POW
3. Navigator Dailey, Robert F. 2nd Lt. Eastchester, N.Y. KIA while POW
4. Bombardier Coulter, Don A. 1st Lt. Arkansas City, Ks. KIA while POW
5. Flt/Engineer Farish, Henry T. M/Sgt. Al. KIA while POW
6. Radar Opr. Prouty, Eugene J. Sgt. Barahoe, Wi. KIA while POW
7. Radio Opr. Chapman, Willard M. S/Sgt. Clovis, N.M. KIA while POW
8. Snr Gnr Niles, Cleveland T. Jr. S/Sgt. East Saint Louis, Il. KIA
while POW
9. Rt Gnr Sabo, Peter (NMI) Sgt. St. Clarisville, Oh. KIA while POW
10. Lt Gnr Romanelli, Joseph W. Sgt. Darby, Pa. KIA
11. Tail Gnr Heisler, Charles A. Sgt. Arnold, Md. KIA while POW
12. IDENTIFY BELOW THOSE PERSONS WHO ARE BELIEVED
TO HAVE LAST KNOWELDGE OF AIRCRAFT, AND CHECK APPROPRIATE COLUMN TO
INDICATE BASIS FOR SAME:
Check only One Column
Saw
Name in Full Serial Contacted Last Saw Forced
(Last Name First) Rank Number by Radio Sighted Crash Landing
Shelden, Harold J. Major X
DATE OF REPORT 7 June 1945
ELLIOTT S. TREMAINE,
Captain, Air Corps,
Operations Officer.
17. REMARKS OR EYEWITNESS STATEMENTS:
WEATHER OVER AREA WHERE PLANE WAS SEEN TO CRASH:
Thin overcast - 20000'
.3 Cumulus - Tops 4000'
Visibility - 20 Miles
Surface winds - Southwesterly.
STATEMENT MADE BY MAJOR HAROLD J. SHELDEN, JR., AC
ON AIRCRAFT NUMBER 42-63451
Upon breaking away from the target on a heading of
114o for "land's end", my gunner reported that Aircraft
42-63451, piloted by Lt. Palmer, flying on the low element, had
feathered Number three (3) engine. Very shortly thereafter that engine
was seen to start running and was immediately feathered for the second
time. Aircraft 451 then started losing altitude and dropped out of his
position in the low element. I then pulled out of formation, No. 2 in
lead element, and proceeded down to act as escort.
While approximately 200 feet above and still
descending it was noted that Aircraft 451 was trailing smoke out of
Number 3 engine. This condition existed for approximately five minutes
at which time a heavy flame broke out trailing from Number 3 engine
back to the horizontal stabilizer. Lt. Palmer was at this time holding
a steady heading for "land's end" and was gradually
descending. At approximately two to three miles before reaching coast,
and after having traveled approximately fifteen miles with fire
burning furiously, the right wing was seen to buckle at Number 3
engine and break off. The airplane rolled over on its back and started
into a vertical nose down spin.
Four parachutes were then seen to open almost
simultaneously at an altitude of approximately 11,000 feet; then three
more, then two and one. All parachutes were open relatively soon but
in the groups as indicated.
The wing was seen to hit on the side of a mountain
further inland and sooner than did the remainder of the aircraft which
crashed approximately three hundred (300) yards inland from shore and
at southeast edge of small settlement along water front.
Two enemy fighters made attacks at an interval of
approximately two minutes shortly after Aircraft 451 started blazing
fire out of Number 3 engine. The first fighter was destroyed and the
second damaged.
One circle was made by escorting aircraft of all
chutes at which time a third fighter was seen approximately two miles
to the south. The escorting aircraft proceeded on 180o heading out to
sea, was followed by fighter for nearly ten minutes and then broke
away without being able to make an attack.
I certify this to be a true and accurate account to
the best of my knowledge.
HAROLD H. SHELDEN,
Major, Air Corps.
(Airplane Commander)