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Click on any picture for larger view.
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B29 SuSu Baby
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B29 Plane |
SuSu Baby Crew
Charles Mohn is in Front
Row, 2nd from Left |
CREWMEMBERS INFORMATION FOR FLIGHT
March 7, 1945
73RD BOMB WING
500TH BOMB GROUP
883RD BOMB SQUADRON
Z SQUARE 46 "SUSU BABY" SERIAL # 42-24721
CREW NUMBER 354
CREW MISSION 11
AIRCRAFT MISSIONS 13
AIRCRAFT COMMANDER 1/LT THEODORE H. HOLMES KIA
CO-PlLOT 2/LT GILBERT G. EASTON
BOMBARDlER 2/LT GEORGE C. POPE
NAVIGATOR 2/LT ALVIS C. SPARKS KIA
FLIGHT ENGINEER 2/LT ROBERT SEBRING
RADIO OPERATOR SGT RALPH A. LIETZ
RING GUNNER S/SGT CHARLES L. MOHN
RIGHT GUNNER SGT ROBERT FISHER KIA
LEFT GUNNER SGT ELLIS B. GRANGER KIA
RADAR OPERATOR SGT NORMAN B. ANDERSON KIA
TAIL GUNNER SGT PATRICK J. COLLINS
OBSERVER MAJ JOHN E. GAY KIA
GROUND CREW:-
M/SGT RAUL S. JIMINEZ (CREW CHIEF),. S/SGT SAM B. MOORE,
S/SGT ALBERT J. BIANCHI, S/SGT CHARLES H. LIGHT JR.,
SGT VINTON EDWARDS, AND CPL STANLEY ZAR
NOTES:- AIRCRAFT ARRIVED SAIPAN EARLY NOVEMBER 1944 WAS DITCHED BY LT.
HOLMES 3/7/45 WHILE ON A WEATHER MISSION. FOUR MEN WENT DOWN WITH THE
PLANE. HOLMES,. GRANGER, FISHER AND ANDERSON. POPE AND COLLINS SUFFERED
SHOCK AND RETURNED TO DUTY AFTER R AND R, EASTON, SEBRING, LIETZ AND MOHN
RECEIVED SEVERE INJURIES AND WERE SENT STATESIDE. SPARKS AND GAY DIED QF
INJURIES AND WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD ABOARD THE RESCUE SHIP, THE USS
HUDSON (DD475).
THEY WERE BURRIED ON SAIPAN.
Note: Charles L. MOHN was born April 16, 1923 at Adamstown PA.
He died March 15, 1994 at Tampa FL. where he lived for over 50 years. Raised five children as a Professional Photographer.
Thanks to Mark and Cheryl (Mohn) Wise, Charles's son-in-law and daughter for providing the photos and information.
The following provided by Richard Paynter SM2c who was one of the designated Rescue Swimmers.
ACCORDING TO THE USS HUDSON DD475, SHIPS DECK LOG ENTERED BY LT. STAN EISENBERG:
AT 0732 MAR 7, 1945 SIGHTED B29 BY RADAR AT A DISTANCE OF 8 MILES, APPARENTLY IN TROUBLE WITH AT LEAST ONE ENGINE STOPED..
B29 LANDED IN WATER AT 0735 ASTERN OF FORMATION, DISTANCE 4 MILES.
ALL HANDS TO G.Q..
ARRIVED 0745 AT SCENE OF CRASH. LOWERED WHALEBOAT TO P/U SURVIVORS.
AT 0745 PICKED UP 7 SURVIVORS AND RETURNED TO SHIP..LOWERED GIG TO CONTINUE SEARCH. PORTION OF PLANE FUSELAGE STILL ABOVE WATER...
LT. GWINN NOWELL NOW ON DECK WRITES:
GIG RETURNED WITH 1 ADDITIONAL SURVIVOR AT 0810..
8 OF A CREW OF 12 ARE ON BOARD. SEARCH FOR REMAINING 4 CREW MEMBERS PROVED NEGATIVE.
AIRMEN BROUGHT ON BOARD:
MAJ. JOHN E. GAY UNCONSCIOUS APPARENTLY DROWNED; ARTIFICIAL
RESPIRATION BEING APPLIED:
2ND LT. ALVIS L SPARKS UNCONSCIOUS, APPARENTLU DROWNED, ALSO COMPOUND FRACTURES BOTH LEGS NUMEROUS OTHER INJURIES:
2ND LT. ROBERT E. SEBRING, COMPOUND FRACTURE RIGHT LEG, LACERATIONS ABOUT HEAD AND ARMS, WOUNDS CLEANED AND DRESSED, MORPHINE AND PLASMA ADMINSTERED;
2ND LT. ROBT. C POPE IMMERSION AND MILD SHOCK;
STAFF SARGENT CHARLES MOHN, FRACTURED PELVIS AND MULTIPLE
LACERATIONS WOUNDS DRESSED AND MORPHINE AND PLASMA ADMINISTERED;
SGT RALPH A LIETZ FRACTURE RIGHT LEG MORPHINE GIVEN, LEG PLACED IN
SPLINT;
CPL PATRICK COLLINS IMMERSION AND SHOCK.
RICHARD PAYNTER SIGNALMAN 2/C DESIGNATED RESCUE SWIMMER ALONG WITH JOHNNY O`DANIEL FIREMAN 3/C.
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