W45AUTH\CE28B-ES.DOC
Eugene Seitz Flight Crew #15, City of Denver #42-93913 M-3 Crew Chief Lloyd Reed
Crew #15 as of Mar 12 1945, after 3rd mission
|
Loc |
Duty |
Rank |
Name |
ASN |
MOS |
Home
address 1992 |
|
S1 |
AC |
Capt |
Eugene
M. Seitz |
0416897 |
1093 |
CA / deceased |
|
S2 |
P |
1st
Lt |
Robert
M Howe |
01309558 |
1091 |
Skokie, IL / unknown |
|
S4 |
N |
1st
Lt |
Emmet
S. Epley |
02060488 |
1038 |
Great Falls, MT/ unknown |
|
S3 |
B |
1st
Lt |
Esmond
S. Carey |
02065242 |
1035 |
Baker, MT/ PO Box 1103, Gualala, CA, 95445 |
|
S5 |
RO |
F/O |
Richard
R. Ackerman |
T131520 |
0142 |
/PO BOX 1913, Wolfeboro, NH, 03894 |
|
K4 |
FE |
F/O |
Arthur
L. Kendrick |
T225119 |
737 |
CO
/ unknown |
|
K6 |
R |
S/Sgt |
James
H. Baxendall |
13130169 |
2756 |
PA / 318 Bost Dr, W. Mifflin, PA, 15222 |
|
K3 |
CFC |
T/Sgt |
Thomas
C. Atchinson |
38579657 |
580 |
TX / unknown |
|
K2 |
RG |
Sgt |
Edward
J Doherty |
11141504 |
611 |
Brockton,
MA / 31 Field St. Watertwon, MA, 02172 |
|
K5 |
LG |
S/Sgt |
Victor
O. Dorr |
14193887 |
611 |
SC / unknown |
|
K1 |
TG |
S/Sgt |
Lewis
F. Svagreyr |
36069269 |
611 |
IL / unknown |
After the 13th mission Capt Seitz (AC) injured his knee playing volleyball and was hospitalized. He was replaced by 1st Lt James F. Stevens who had been Pilot on V. Chandlers crew. At this time F/O Ackerman went to Chandlers crew and 1st Lt J. B. McMinis replaced Ackerman.
The following Bombardier data for Seitz missions were extracted from Esmond Carey's "Bombardiers Critique Report" and "Interigation form 12" as prepared in 1945.
M#039;
03-04-45;WingS 73-313-314; Night;
General Purpose bombs; 25-28,000 ft altitude; Tokyo; Nakajima Aircraft Factory
at Musashino "Enkindle #5"
20th
AF Airborne=192; Abort=14; Loss=1(unk cause); Bomb load=5646 lb; Fuel
Reserve=947 gal;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0
28th Airborne=(?): VChandler#1, CWells#1, JSimmons#1, FMaupin#0, ESeitz#1,
ESeitz#1 [M-3] [ECarey] Radar didn't pick up target till 20mi from target, poor interpretation of scope. Large course error to right. wind=290 deg at 160mph, Indicated Air Speed (IAS)=192 mph, Computed Air Speed=185mph. We were not in formation. On C1 Autopilot for 60 sec bomb run, true altitude=24,500 ft, ground speed=435 mph. Radar worked poorly and Aim Point was not picked up visually until aprox 10 mi away. Course set up was too far right to correct at the very high ground speed. Bomb strike estimated as 5mi right of target."
M#040;
03-09-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night;
Incendiary bombs; 5-9,000 ft altitude; Tokyo Urban area "Meetinghouse #2"
20th
AF Airborne=325; Abort=12; Lost=14(1 to AA; 5 ditched; 7 unk; 1 to survey);
Bomb load=9673 lb.; Fuel Reserve=1044 gal.; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=40
28th Airborne=(7): VChandler#2, ESeitz#2, CWells#2, JHancock#2, JSimmons#2, RAuer#2, ?__
RAuer#2 Lt Robert Auer lost at target, the first 28th Sqd loss in 42-63569.
ESeitz#2 [M-3] [ECarey] "(24) E46 Incendiaries. Clear, no planes, AA trailed inaccurate. Hit where aimed. wind=270 deg. at =29 mph, IAS=230 mph. True altitude 5210 ft, ground speed=250 mph. Run=45 sec. Severe turbulance at Aim Point. Bomb strike in target area and right."
M#041;
03-11-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night;
Incendiary bombs; 5-8,000 ft altitude; Nagoya Urban area "Microscope #2"
20th
AF Airborne=310; Abort=18; Lost=1(ditched after takeoff); Bomb load=9827 lb.;
Fuel Reserve=920 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=47
28th Airborne=(6): JO'Neil#_,VChandlerd#3, ESeitz#3, CWells#3, JSimmons#3, VParker#1,
ESeitz#3 [M-3] [ECarey] "(24) E46 Incendiaries. Clear, many many SL, some AA. wind=340 deg at 24mph, IAS=250 mph. (8) bombs failed to release -- they were salvoed on target area. Ground speed=248, true altitude=6300 ft. Run=30 sec. Bomb strike in target area below assigned Aim Point -- Aim Point was on fire.
On a night medium altitude mission to Nagoya we were "pinned" by 17 searchlights all during the bomb run. After the "bombs away" the AC took a hard diving right turn to get out of the lights and flack and had to call the co-pilot for additional muscle to pull out of the turn. From my seat it was scarey.
M#043;
03-16-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night;
Incendiary bombs; 4-9KAltitude; Kobe Urban area "Middleman #2"
20th
AF Airborne=330; Abort=16; Lost=3 (3 to unk); Bomb load=14931 lb.; Fuel
Reserve=889 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=96
28th Airborne=(8): VChandler#5, ESeitz#4, CWells#5, JHancock#3, JSimmons#5, VParker#3, ?__,?__
RFitzgerald#_ Maj R. Fitzgerald 73rd Wing crew lost, Lt RNelson taken prisoner-- later beheaded
ESeitz#4 [M-3] [ECarey] "(23) E46 Incendiaries. wind=210deg at 40mph, IAS=245 mph. True altitude=5620ft, ground speed=230mph. Run=5 min. Initial Point picked up by radar 40 mi from target. Bomb strikes in target area 1000ft left over Main Point of Impact (MPI)."
M#044;
03-18-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night;
Incendiary bombs; 5-9,000 ft altitude; Nagoya Urban area "Microscope #3"
20th
AF Airborne=310; Abort=19; Lost=1 (1 ditched on return); Bomb load=13144 lb.; Fuel
Reserve=1085 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=44
28th Airborne=(8): ESeitz#5, FMaupin#2, VParker#4, __, __, __, __, __
ESeitz#5 [M-3] (See FC15ES1.DOC by ECarey)[ECarey] "(24) E46 Incendiaries. wind=210deg at 42mph, IAS=253mph. True Altitude=7300ft, ground speed=255mph. Run=4 min. Bomb strike 5000' over MPI, MPI and surrounding area ablaze. Smoke, (1) bomb hung up, released with screwdriver."
On our 5th & 7th missions, both to Nagoya, a bomb "hung up" in the front Bombay. I tried to salvo the bomb but no luck. So I went into the bombay when the doors were opened to try to jettison the bomb. I couldn't get close enough with a chest pack parachute on so had the doors closed, removed the chest pack and got into position hanging onto the bomb rack, had the doors reopened and managed to reach the bomb shackle with a screwdriver and toggle it out. Whew! Scarey!! At least the second time it went more smoothly but was no less frightening."
M#046; 03-27-45; Wings 73-314; Day; General Purpose bombs; 14-18,000 ft altitude; Kyushu; Tachiari & Oita AF and Omura Aircraft Factory "Fearless #1"
20th
AF Airborne=161; Abort=6; Lost=0; Bomb load=6907 lb.; Fuel Reserve=788 gal;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=18
28th Airborne=(7) CWells#7, VChandler#6, ESeitz#6, CWells#7, JSimmons#7, FMaupin#3, VParker#5, __
ESeitz#6 [M-3] [ECarey] "(9) 500lb General Purpose bombs. Hazy, 5 EA, mod AA. In formation, bombed secondary Omura. Intervalometer and toggle switch failed to release bombs, bombs released by salvo. The Limit switch did not close to complete circuit to racks.
M#048;
03-30-45; Wing 314; Night; General
Purpose bombs; 7-8,000 ft altitude; Nagoya; Mitusubushi Engine Plant "Eradicate #6"
20th
AF Airborne=14; Abort=2; Lost=0; Bomb load=8683 lb.; Fuel Reserve=852 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0
28th Airborne=(4) ESeitz#7, CWells#8, JHancock#5, VParker# 6, ___
ESeitz#7 [M-3] [ECarey] "(20) 500lb General Purpose bombs & (1) 51lb Photo Flash flare. Undercast poor visibility no EA & no AA. Wind=270deg at28mph, IAS=200mph, Ground Speed=242mph, true altitude=7200ft. Run=10min. The Bomb bay limit switch did not make contact so could not release -- salvoed on 3rd run. (1) bomb would not release. I released the bomb by use of a screwdriver over water at 10,000ft. Results unobserved.
M#055;
04-03-45; Wing 314; Night; General
Purpose bombs; 7-9,000 ft altitude; Shizuoka; Shizuoka Aircraft Factory "Upcast #1"
20th
AF Airborne=49; Abort=1; Lost=0; Bomb load=9300 lb.; Fuel Reserve=1126 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=0
28th Airborne=(10) VChandler#7, ESeitz#8, JSimmons#8, VParker#7, ______________
ESeitz#8 [M-3] [ECarey] (72) MK6 flares. Smoke no EA no AA. Wind=240deg at 63mph, IAS=200mph, true altitude=7800ft, run=6 min. Radar went out temporarily and timing was off, flares NW of target.
M#059;
04-07-45; Wings 313-314; Day;
General Purpose; 16-25,000 ft altitude; Nagoya; Mitsubishi Engine Plant
"Eradicate #7"
20th
AF Airborne=194; Abort=10; Lost=2(1 to AA; 1 to EA) Bomb load=8993 lb.; Fuel
Reserve=754 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=233 (dest=21, prob=11, dam=22)
28th Airborne=(10) VChandler#8, ESeitz#9, CWells#9, JHancock#6, FMaupin#5, VParker#7, ___, ___, ___, ___
ESeitz#9 [M-3] [ECarey] (16)M64 General Purpose bombs. Clear, target smoke, 4 EA, meager AA. Wind=270deg at 69mph, IAS=185mph, indicated altitude=20000ft. Bomb strike on target. Bombed with 30th Sqd.
M#065;
04-12-45; Wing 314; Day; General
Purpose bombs; 7-9,000 ft altitude; Koriyama; Koriyama Chemical Plant "Lunchroom #1"
20th
AF Airborne=85; Abort=7; Lost=2(1 ditched on return; 1 crashed at Agana, Guam);
Bomb load=5342 lb.; Fuel Reserve=927 gal.; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=2 (dest=0, prob=0; dam=0)
28th Airborne=(11) 1JSimmons#9, 2VChandler#9, ESeitz#10, JHancock#6, HGammel#__, RSpencer#_, JCarroll#__, FMaupin#7, BKordus#__, TReadheimer#_, GO'Leary#__
ESeitz#10 [M-3] [ECarey] (12) M64 General Purpose bombs. Haze, no EA, no AA. Wind=300deg at 29mph, IAS=210mph, indicated altitude=7200ft. Very good results."
M#067;
04-13-45; Wings 73-313-314; Night;
Incendiary bombs; 7-9,000 ft altitude; Tokyo Arsenal "Perdition #1"
20th
AF Airborne=348; Abort=11; Lost=7 (1 ditched on return; 6 unk cause); Bomb
load=9409 lb.; Fuel Reserve=1158 gal.; EA Sighted=?; EA Attacks=102 (dest=6, prob=0, dam=2)
28th Airborne=(14) CWells#10, JHancock#__, FMaupin#7, ESeitz#11, VParker#8,___________________
ESeitz#11 [M-3] [ECarey] (12) M64 incediaries???. Haze, no EA, no AA. Wind=300deg at 29mph, IAS=210mph, indicated altitude=7200ft. Very good bomb results.
M#068;
04-15-45; Wings 313-314; Night; Incendiary
bombs; 6-10,000 ft altitude; Kawasaki Urban area "Brisket #1"
20th
AF Airborne=219; Abort=8; Lost=12 (4 probably to EA or AA; 8 unk cause); Bomb
load=9659 lb.; Fuel reserve=1060 gal.; EA Attacks=53 (dest=?, prob=?, dam=?)
28th Airborne=(13) JO'Neill#__, VChandler#10, ESeitz#12, CWells#11, TReadheimer#_, JSimmons#10, EHammond#__, JCarroll#__, FMaupin#8, VParker#9, GO'Leary#__, JRobinson#_, MFloyd#__
ESeitz#12 [M-3] [ECarey] "(122) M47 incediarys & (1) 500 lb fragmentation bomb. Billowing smoke, some EA & AA. Wind=295deg at 24mph, IAS=250mph, indicated altitude=7000ft. Radar run=5 min using C1 auto pilot. Bombs On-Target.
On the April 15 1945 mission to Kawasaki we ran into a smoke cloud just after bomb release. It really tossed us about and strewed the contents of the chemical toilet all over the Radar Compartment. After that experience we tried never to use the toilet, just relief tubes."
M#090;
04-21-45; Wing 314; Day; General
Purpose bombs; 15-16,000 ft altitude; Kyushu; Nittagahara AF "Bushing #3"
20th
AF Airborne=23; Abort=1; Lost=0; Bomb load=8845 lb.; Fuel Reserve=949 gal.;
EA
Sighted=?; EA Attacks=2 (dest=0,
prob=0, dam=0)
28th Airborne=(7?) VChandler#11, ESeitz#13, JHancock#8, HGammel#_, RSpencer#_, GO'Leary#_, TReadheimer#_, FMaupin#9, VParker#11, BKordus#_, JRobinson#_, MFloyd#_
ESeitz#13 [M-3] [ECarey] (10) M64 General Purpose bombs. Haze no flak. Wind= 290deg at 48mph, IAS=184mph, indicated altitude=16000ft. Bomb results 2000ft at 8 o'clock on Nittagahara primary.
Fig 3..4 B-29 passing Volleyball Court where Capt Seitz injured Knee
Capt E. Seitz (AC) injured his knee playing volley ball on this court between living quarters Quansets. He was hospitalized and replaced by 1st Lt James F. Stevens from Chandlers crew. Stevens had already completed a tour in Lancaster with the RAF.
Fig 4 Bombs to be loaded
Fig 5 M-3 Ground Crew: M/Sgt Loyd Reed, _____ Sgt Charles L. Blose, ____, _____
“I couldn’t
be writing this without their dedication” Esmond
Carey
Reed was the quiet leader of a capable team. Blose had a terrific dry wit that just came natural. Persons who didn’t know him, often miss read him. After the war he delighted in towing Maj Free out of the mud with the Cletrack. When the Maj yelled to slow down, he played deaf, acknowledging yes to speeded up -- splattering more mud over the Jeep and it’s windshield. Some of us had observed from a distance, but split a gut as he told us with dead pan expression what had happened. Like many he was quite bright.
Fig 6 Bob Howe pilot City of Denver, Hawkins pilot City of Chicago (Van Parkers crew) Capt Charles Keough 28th Sqd Engineering Officer. To “pull the prop through” you had to reach high, you could not put your shoulder into it.
Fig 7 Now that puts a load on the tires! Note that another is already in place
Fig 8 Some of the 28th Sqd airplanes daylight release over target
Fig 9 1st Lt Esmond S. Carey at his Bombardiers station in nose of City of Denver, M-3
“Meridith and I had our 46th Anniversary May 26, 1992” Esmond Carey