More on Kirby
KIRBY, Fred S., Jr., S/Sgt., AF 33 851 654 93rd Bomb Sq,
Med 19th Bomb Gp Date of MIA : 12 APR 51
Statement of Circumstances: Flying as tail gunner on combat mission to
Sinanju, Korea in formation of 4. Acft attacked by MIG-15 type fighters.
Acft seen loosing altitude and trailing smoke. Ditching attempted at
38 deg 45 min N and 124 deg 50 min E. [3rd] Air Sea Rescue reported 2
large rafts, 1 small raft, and debris sighted but no survivors were
seen in rafts. 3 British surface vessels searching area. 12 aboard.
Another AF doc sights:
Date of Crash: 12 APR 51 - 1018 hrs
Crash Location: 38 48'N, 124 32'E [this isn't quite the same as above]
Body of 1 crew member [of 12 man crew] was recovered in the water after
he had . [then document becomes unreadable] ... crash for survivors was
suspended. After negative results, the active search for other crew
members who might have parachuted was abandoned.
Sea calm. Winds 10-15 knots. Small swells Special marking - 50 inch
horizontal black stripe on vertical stabalizer, red markings on nose,
wing tips, and top of vertical stabalizer.
["Lucky Dog" nose art - see www.tezcat.com/~dawn/warplane/page2.html]
Capt Charles H. Mullin followed aircraft from target to vicinity of
surface vessel (Sandiron). Maintained radio contact until after they
announce intent to ditch (~5 min before attempt). Called in two F-51's
(Wolfhound and Charley) which assisted in the search. Debris was
sighted 10 min later. Capt Mullin flew over the debris at 500 ft and
there were no signs of survivors.
George W. Higgins
On Tue, 5 May 1998
Ken HigginsEmail addresswrote:
4204 Avon Drive
Dumfries, VA 22026-1613
Telephone: 703-670-5825
Fax: 703-221-4147
Looking for information on George W. Higgins. 20th Air Force, 19th
Bomb Group, 93rd Squadron. B-29 FUJIGMO. Killed 4/12/51
The 93rd Bomb Squadron (Red tail & nose) of the 19th Bomb Group.
Screamin Indians? The plane is FUJIGMO, lost with all aboard on April
12, 1951. Tailgunner George W. Higgins.
Thanks so much for all your help. Any word on reunions, please forward.
Budman
The Double Whammy
On Tue, 30 Jun 1998
stephens Email address wrote:
93rd squadron 19th bomb group
datein: 1950 dateout: 1952
comments:
looking for information on crew members aboard plane called double
whammy. my father served as a flight enginer. tail number maybe
4487734 best i can tell from one old picture.
would like to find pictures of this plane or any information at all
thanks.
Pierre Stouffer
On Thu, 08 Oct 1998
Neil Stouffer Email address wrote:
131 1st street
Belmont, Manitoba R0K 0C0
Canada
Phone: 204 537 2635
I was with 93rd bomb squadron, 19th bomb group, FEAF stationed at
Kadena. My name is Neil Stouffer Airman First Class. My nickname was
Pierre.
I am interested in hearing from anyone who was in Korea from 1951 to
1952. I was stationed at Kadena and was a second fire control gunner.
We flew missions over Korea. Tail gunner was Jimmy Myers, one gunner
was Joe Macullough, Frank Pelzel was the radio operator. One pilot was
named Capt. Durand. Do these names ring a bell with anyone. We lost a
co-pilot who was called Tex maybe named Scotty actually.
I flew on several B29's including the 'Outlaw' which crashed at the end
of the runway around Oct 51 with Cspt Donanan (I think). "Boys we best
get out of this son of a bitch, she's on fire".
One of the gunners was Noble Walker, second Luitenant Scotty (Tex)
Thompson, who died in Korea.
Gunner
On Wed, 21 Oct 1998
Frank (Bud) Farrell Email address wrote:
213 Highridge Rd.
Durango, CO 81301
Phone: 970-247-5892
Email: f_troop@frontier.net
B-29 Gunner in 93rd Bomb Squadron, 19th Bomb Group 6/21/52 thru
12/21/52, 25 Combat missions N.Korealater Air Refueling Operator in
KB-29's in 43rd Air Refueling Squadron, 43rd Bomb Wing at Davis-Monthan
A.F.B.
Finding Crew
On Fri, 19 Mar 1999
"Dee L. Pittman" Email address wrote:
I was with the 19th bomb Wing, 93rd bomb Squadron stationed at Kadena.
This was the B29 group moved from Guam, and we were the first "relief"
group. The original group from Guam had a long period waiting for us to
get trained.
I would like to contact any of my old crew members:
A/C Grieffendorf from Michigan
Pilot Lundquist from Minnesota
Bombadier Dan Rose from Tulsa, OK
ECM The Professor, I can't think of his name now
Radio Johnson from L.A.
Flight Engineer Wallace M. Cox of Ft. Worth TX
Right Gunner Charles Wiscavage (Overly) of Calif.
Left Gunner Richard M. Mercier of Minnesota I think
Tail Gunner Howell of Grand Rapids MI.
I was CFC (top gunner) and I am
Dee L. Pittman
226 High Brook Drive
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 669-9629
EMail Dpitts@flash.net or deepittman@hotmail.com
Hope to hear from anyone. We went over in Aug. 1951 and returned in
March or April or 1952. We brought back a B29 from Tokyo to Travis AFB
when we returned.
FRED STEPHENSON KIRBY JR
On Sun, 4 Jul 1999
Dear Ted,
I apologize for not getting back to you before now. I found out from my
youngest brother that you have our uncle in your database.
His information is as follows:
FRED STEPHENSON KIRBY JR.
Air Force
1/31/54
SSGT - E5
SERVICE NUMBER: A33851654- MOS: -----
RICHMOND VA
Unknown
Hostile, Died While Missing (MIA)
1925 7/12/1925
Caucasian
Key No: 16025
Any help you can provide on gathering additional information is greatly
appreciated.
Best Regards,
Thom
