Boeing B-29 Superfortress 42-24592 “Dauntless Dotty”
869th Bomb Squadron, 497th Bomb Group, 73rd Bomb Wing, 20th Air Force. 24th of November 1944
This plane was the personal aircraft of the 869th Bomb Squadron's commander, Major Robert K. Morgan. For those of you who don't recognize that name, he was also the original pilot of the 91st Bomb Group's famous B-17, "Memphis Belle". After completing his tour in the ETO he took another one in the Pacific Theatre, and completed it as well. He flew this plane in the lead position of the entire 73rd Bomb Wing for the first mission to Japan to be flown from Saipan. The bombardier for that mission was also one of the original crew of the "Memphis Belle", Vince Evans.
"Dauntless Dotty" was also the first B-29 to complete 35 missions in the Pacific.
She was lost on takeoff for a ferry flight on June 6,1945. The crash killed 10 of her crew, but they were able to rescue 3 men.
Crew on last mission:
Capt. William A. Kelley - pilot (KIFA)
1stLt. John F. Neville - copilot (rescued,RTD)
1stLt. William Kovach - navigator (KIFA)
1stLt. Roy E. Shanklin,Jr. - navigator (KIFA)
1stLt. Carl W. Stammerjohn - observer (KIFA)
S/Sgt. Otto D. Pance,Jr. - radio operator (KIFA)
S/Sgt. Albert Desimone - radar observer (KIFA)
T/Sgt. Glenn N. Jones - remote control turret mechanic (KIFA)
S/Sgt. Thurman Walling - armorer (KIFA)
S/Sgt. Charles S. McMurray - electronics mechanic (rescued,RTD)
S/Sgt. Glenn F. Gregory - flight maintenance,gunner (rescued,RTD)
Maj. Louis J. Hartman - passenger (KIFA)
PFC Lowell B. Spivey - passenger (KIFA)