Tag: B29 Superfortress explosion 29 January 1953

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Ashley, Gilbert Lamour Jr.
Air Force Captain

Gilbert Lamour Jr. Ashley, age 30, from Rock Hall, Maryland, Kent county.

Parents: Gilbert L. Ashley Sr.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Captain Gilbert Lamour Ashley, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Maryland, was a member of the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the Aircraft Commander aboard the B-29, and the namesake of the Ashley 5. Further attempts to locate him were unsuccessful, and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, Captain Ashley is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Gilbert’s relatives learned in 1990s that Gilbert was alive in the hands of North Korean captors after the July 1953 armistice was signed, but he was never heard from again. Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Daily Times (1953)

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Henry, Dewey Roseswall
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Dewey Roseswall Henry, age 31, from Atlanta, Georgia, Fulton county.

Spouse: Ellen M. Henry
Children: Daughter, 4

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. First Lieutenant Dewey Rosenwell Henry, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Georgia, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the navigator aboard this B-29 when it was lost, and was not among the known survivors of the crash. No returning POWs mentioned contact with 1st Lt Henry, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, First Lieutenant Henry is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Columbus Ledger (1953), Atlanta Constitution (1953)

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Ishida, Hidemaro Saito
Air Force Airman 1st class

Hidemaro Saito Ishida, age 20, from San Francisco, California, San Francisco county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Airman First Class Hidemaro Saito Ishida, who joined the U.S. Air Force from California, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the right gunner aboard the Superfortress when it went down, and is believed to have been one of the survivors in the Ashley 5. Further attempts to locate him were unsuccessful and he remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman First Class Ishida is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, North County Times (1997)

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Olsen, Arthur Robert
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Arthur Robert Olsen, age 33, from Blytheville, Arkansas, Mississippi county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. First Lieutenant Arthur Robert Olsen, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Arizona, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the radar bombardier aboard this Superfortress when it went down, and was among survivors known as the Ashley 5. Further attempts to locate him have been unsuccessful and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, First Lieutenant Olsen is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Courier News (1953)

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O’Meara, James Joseph Jr.
Air Force Airman 1st class

James Joseph Jr. O’Meara, age 23, from Detroit, Michigan, Wayne county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Airman Second Class James Joseph O’Meara, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Michigan, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the Electronic Countermeasures Operator aboard this B-29 when it went down, and was not among the known survivors of the crash. Additionally, no returning POWs mentioned contact with A2C O’Meara, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman Second Class O’Meara is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy. “I just want to get an accounting for him and then let it rest,” his brother said in 1995)

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Detroit Free Press (1995)

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Pope, James Dean
Air Force Airman 2nd class

James Dean Pope, age 21, from Cherryville, North Carolina, Gaston county.

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Airman Second Class James Dean Pope, who joined the U.S. Air Force from North Carolina, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the center fire control gunner aboard this B-29 when it went down. He was not among the known survivors of the loss. Additionally, no returning POWs mentioned contact with A2C Pope, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman Second Class Pope is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Herald Sun (2010)

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Schwab, Edward Anthony
Air Force Airman 1st Class

Edward Anthony Schwab, age 20, from Java, New York, Wyoming county.

Parents: John E. Schwab

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Airman Second Class Edward Anthony Schwab, who joined the U.S. Air Force from New York, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Squadron. He was the radio operator aboard this B-29 when it went down, and was not among the known survivors of this loss. Additionally, no returning POWs mentioned contact with A2C Schwab, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman Second Class Schwab is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Buffalo News (1953)

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Shaddick, John Phillip III
Air Force 1st lieutenant

John Phillip III Shaddick, age 25, from Coral Gables, Florida, Dade county.

Parents: R. H. Shaddick

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. First Lieutenant John Philip Shaddick III, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Florida, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the co-pilot aboard this Superfortress when it went down, and was one of the “Ashely 5.” Further attempts to locate him were unsuccessful and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, First Lieutenant Shaddick is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Mami Herald (1953)

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Stevenson, Frank James
Air Force Airman 1st Class

Frank James Stevenson, age 18, from Camden, New Jersey, Camden county.

Parents: J. C. Stevenson

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. Airman Third Class Frank James Stevenson, who joined the U.S. Air Force from New Jersey, was assigned to the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the Electronic Countermeasures Operator aboard this B-29 when it went down, and was not among known survivors of the loss. Additionally, no returning POWs mentioned having contact with A3C Stevenson, nor was he seen at any known holding point, interrogation center, hospital, or permanent POW camp. He remains unaccounted-for. Today, Airman Third Class Stevenson is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Courier Post (1953)

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Stopa, Dewey
Air Force 1st lieutenant

Dewey Stopa, age 27, from Kansas City, Kansas, Wyandotte county.

Parents: Mary A. Stopa

Service era: Korea

Date of death: Thursday, January 29, 1953
Death details: On the evening on January 28, 1953, a B-29 Superfortress (tail number 42-65357A) with a crew of fourteen departed Kadena Air Base in a flight of four. The briefed mission was a night bombing operation targeting the Kompo-Dong supply yard south of Pyongyang, North Korea. Shortly after releasing its payload, the B-29 was attacked by enemy MiG-15 fighters. Just after midnight, the aircraft commander made a distress call and ordered the crew to bail out. A few minutes later, witnesses reported the Superfortress caught fire and exploded in midair near Hungsu-ri. It is believed that five airmen were still aboard the aircraft when it exploded. The nine surviving crew members were captured by the North Koreans; three of them were returned to U.S. custody following the war, and one is known to have died at the Pike’s Peak prisoner interrogation center. While being moved in a convoy to a holding site, the remaining five prisoners were “liberated” by a group of Korean irregulars, believed to be North Koreans masquerading as South Korean guerrillas. Later that day, the B-29’s Aircraft Commander (Captain Gilbert Ashley) was allowed to contact United Nations Forces. On April 24, U.S. forces attempted to rescue the five men, but the rescue aircraft was fired upon during the attempt and the efforts were abandoned. Later reporting revealed the loyalty of the guerrilla unit and the probability that it had used the prisoners as bait. The five prisoners became known as the “Ashley 5,” after the Aircraft Commander, and all five of them remain unaccounted-for, along with the five who were believed to be aboard the plane when it exploded and the one who died at the Pike’s Peak center. First Lieutenant Dewey Stopa, who joined the U.S. Air Force from Kansas, was a member of the 28th Bombardment Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group. He was the bombardier aboard the Superfortress when it went down, and was the crew member who died at the Pike’s Peak interrogation center following the crash. His remains have not been identified and he is still unaccounted-for. Today, First Lieutenant Stopa is memorialized on the Courts of the Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.Relativeswerelatertoldthoseaboardsurvivedthecrashandwereheldcaptivebytheenemy.

Source: National Archives, Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Leavenworth Times (1953)