The members of crew #4011 were:
Cpt Herbert F. Bunting (A/C)
1/Lt Edgar Vincent (Pilot)
1/Lt Clarence M. Presswood (Navigator)
1/Lt Harry E. Fink, Jr. (Bombardier)
Cpl Emmitt J.
Yager (Engineer)
S/Sgt James W. Smylie, Jr. (Radio)
__ Carmine S. DiPalma (Radarman)
T/Sgt Dudley J. Nuttle (CFC)
S/Sgt Eugene E. Jack (R Gunner)
S/Sgt John M. Joyce (L Gunner)
Cpl Ralph W. Hanson, Jr. (T Gunner)
Sometime before April 7,
1/Lt Henry E. Peelie, Jr. (Engineer) replaced Cpl Emmitt J.
Yager.
Crew 4011, while in training stateside.
Photo courtesy of Jay Jack, son of S/Sgt Eugene E. Jack, all
rights reserved.
Crew 4011 in front of "Tulsa Barb".
Photo courtesy of Jay Jack, son of S/Sgt Eugene E. Jack, all
rights reserved.
DFC Citation - Mission 20. Mitsubishi Aircraft Company (Apr 7)
For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 7 April
1945 from a base in the Marianas Islands. These individuals were combat
crew members of a B-29 on a bombing mission against the important
Mitsubishi aircraft engine works in the city of Nagoya, Japan. At the
assembly point off the coast of Japan it was found that the weather made
it impossible to form the Squadron at the altitude briefed, and the
Squadron Leader advised attacking a target of opportunity. This crew
however, as a result of skillful navigation and airmanship, succeeded in
rendezvousing with three other ships thirty miles west of the assembly
point. In the face of intense, heavy, anti-aircraft fire, and two fighter
attacks, they bombed the briefed primary target at 16,000 feet, inflicting
severe damage on the enemy. As a result of this strike they aided
materially in damaging huge areas of the factory, as evidenced by later
reconnaissance photographs showing more than two million square
feet--sixty-two percent--of the total roof area of the plant damaged.
Sixty-three large buildings and twenty-seven smaller buildings were
destroyed. The perseverance, devotion to duty and high professional skill
displayed by these veterans of many missions against the home islands of
Japan contributed materially in the crippling of the enemy's aircraft
production. Their actions reflect great credit on themselves and the Army
Air Forces.
First Lieutenant CLARENCE PRESSWOOD (then Second Lieutenant) as Navigator
First Lieutenant HARRY L. FINK (then Second Lieutenant) as Bombardier
First Lieutenant HENRY E. PEELLE, JR. (then Second Lieutenant) as Flight
Engineer
Technical Sergeant DUDLEY J. NUTTLE (then Staff Sergeant) as Central Fire
Control Gunner
Staff Sergeant JOHN M. JOYCE (then Corporal) as Left Gunner
Staff Sergeant JAMES W. SMYLIE (then Sergeant) as Radio Operator
Sergeant RALPH W. HANSON, JR. as Tail Gunner
[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]
A separate DFC Citation was written for Captain HERBERT F. BUNTING,
Aircraft Commander of Crew #4011.
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