The 6th Bomb Group

The members of crew #4001 were:

Cpt Charles H. Gipson (A/C)
Cpt Donald H. Frank (Pilot)
1/Lt Stanley Wirtschafter (Navigator)
1/Lt Osborne D. Nichols (Bombardier)
2/Lt James R. Smith (Engineer)
S/Sgt Joseph D. Duggan (Radio)
T/Sgt James W. Shelton (CFC)
S/Sgt James H. Wiseman (Radarman)
Sgt James I. McCrea (R Gunner)
S/Sgt George F. Sauls (L Gunner)
Sgt Charles Rheynard (T Gunner)

1/Lt William M. Meador (Pilot) also flew with the crew.

DFC Citation - Mission 43. Tokyo Urban Area (May 23-24)

For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight on 24 May 1945. These individuals were combat crew members of a B-29 aircraft on a night incendiary raid against important industrial facilities in the city of Tokyo, Japan, flying from a base in the Marianas Islands. The success of the mission depended on close coordination and precise flying. As a result of the high degree of professional skill displayed by each of these individuals, this plane reached the target area at the briefed time and exactly along the planned course. Despite intense, heavy, and accurate flak, a large number of searchlights, and aggressive attacks by two enemy planes, one of which they destroyed, they released bombs as briefed, materially aiding in the destruction of fifty percent of the built-up portion of the city. Each of these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland distinguished himself on this mission by outstanding performance of assigned tasks, by coolness and courage in the face of great danger, thereby reflecting great credit on himself and the Army Air Forces.

First Lieutenant WILLIAM M. MEADOR as Airplane Commander
First Lieutenant STANLEY WIRTSCHAFTER (then Second Lieutenant) as Navigator
First Lieutenant OSBORNE D. NICHOLS as Bombardier
Staff Sergeant JAMES H. WISEMAN, JR as Radar Gunner
Technical Sergeant JAMES W. SHELTON (then Staff Sergeant) as Central Fire Control Gunner
Staff Sergeant GEORGE F. SAULS (then Sergeant) as Left Blister Gunner
Staff Sergeant JAMES I. MCCREA as Right Blister Gunner
Sergeant CHARLES J. RHEYNARD as Tail Gunner

[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]

This crew generally flew "___".