Warbird Information Exchange

Where is the location of the loss? Exploded in the air over what?

(44-)69748 (9th BG, 1st BS) shot down by AAA Mar 25, 1945 and crashed at Nakashinden Yatomi-chi Nagoya, Japan
while on mission to Mitsubishi aircraft engine works at Nagoya, Japan. MACR 13448. All 11 crew KIA.

42-63526 ("Teaser")
Shaffrath Crew, 871st SQ, 497th BG, 73rd BW, Saipan


Aircraft Commander: 1st Lt. Paul W. Shaffrath (Wife - Mrs. Gloria E. Shaffrath)
Co-Pilot: 1st Lt. John J. Swisshelm (Wife - Mrs. Jane T. Swisshelm)
Navigator-Bombardier: 2nd Lt. Robert L. Green, Jr. (Mother - Mrs. Jamie G. Tatom)
Bombardier-Navigator: 2nd Lt. Eric M. Meding (Father - Mr. Erich H. Meding)
Flight Engineer: 2nd Lt. Benjamin L. Harris (Father - Mr. Aaron T. Harris)
Radar Operator: Sgt. Robert G. Smith (Mother - Mrs. Vera Ruth Smith)
Radio Operator/Gunner: S/Sgt. John M. Ray, Jr. (Wife - Mrs. Wilma M. Ray)
Central Fire Control: S/Sgt. Harold Sheshansky (Mother - Mrs. Lillian Sheshansky)
Left Gunner: Sgt. Dale D. Wright (Mother - Mrs. Roxie W. Wright)
Right Gunner: Sgt. Robert L. Tramp (Mother - Mrs. Marie E. Tramp) (Also Bill Grindell's uncle)
Tail Gunner: Sgt. Robert G. Sumner (Wife - Mrs. Josephine M. Sumner)
... crashed at approximately 00:30 Japan Standard Time on March 25. She came to rest in a residential area at Gokiso-cho Showa-ku Nagoya-shi, approximately 3.2 miles south southwest from Nagoya Dome, on line between the offset aiming point and the target. Reports indicated that 5 to 9 homes were destroyed, and 3 others were damaged. The eleven crew members died along with at least 4 (perhaps 5 or 6) civilians in the residences. "Teaser" was upside down on top of a roof which had caved in. Her bomb load remained intact and fuel was all over the area; however, there was no fire after the crash.

While the MACR indicates the crash could have been due to flak, enemy aircraft or B-29 collision, eyewitness accounts from Japanese witnesses indicate a direct hit on the tail by flak. Lt. Touchi Minakawa, former Company Commander of the 11th Company, 72nd Battalion, 124th Anti-Aircraft Regiment stationed at Tsurumai Park, Nagoya stated that the B-29 crashed about 1000 meters away from his unit's location, and he watched the plane from the time it was hit until it crashed. None of the crew members parachuted from the plane. It was alleged that three of the flyers fell out of the plane when it crashed, and the people threw rocks at them and killed them.

It was also alleged that two bodies were placed on the ground, while a third body was placed upright supported on poles and exhibited to the public. These allegations were never proved, and I firmly believe that the 3 alleged murders never took place. It is a known fact that the aircraft and crew remained at the site for approximately 10 days, perhaps 2 weeks. About 2 or 3 days after the crash, the body of one crew member (other than 2nd Lt. Harris) was in fact removed from the plane and placed on the wing for exhibition. For the next 10 days or so, a barrel was placed near the road, and pedestrians donated money to the 11th Company, 72nd Battalion, 124th Anti-Aircraft Regiment. They raised about 10,000 yen (roughly $80 at today's conversion rate). About 70% of this was donated to Division Headquarters and 30% was used to purchase sweet potatoes for the Anti-Aircraft Unit.

The wreckage was eventually cleared away, and the remains of the crew members were buried in a common grave on the grounds of Jogen-ji Temple. This is a very peaceful setting on Gokiso Hill. The original temple was built between 1558 and 1570; however, it was also destroyed by the B-29 bombings, and had to be rebuilt after the war.

My Uncle Robert had lived in Coos Bay, OR, attended the University of Oregon, and was a member of Signa Chi fraternity before enlisting from Eugene, OR. He was finally put to rest on January 24, 1949, at Lincoln Memorial Park, Portland, OR. Coincidentally, this is also the final resting place for Cecil T. Laird, Tail Gunner of "The Rover Boys Express."