W45AUTH\MR93E-LR.DOC

Loc	Duty	Rank	Last	First	MOS	SN	Address
S1	AC	Capt	Robinson	Lewis L.			died in Vietnam War
S2	P	1st Lt	Henderson	Max
S3	N	1st Lt	Tew	Roy E.
S6	B	1st Lt	Pavey Jr	Eugene L.
S5	RO	F/O	Bagd	Mechelol
S4	FE	M/Sgt	McNamee	Roy
F1	R	T/Sgt	Tsalapatas	Paul
	CFC	T/Sgt	Spurgen	Thaddeus
	LG	S/Sgt	Smelhad	Donald E.
	LG	S/Sgt	Slider	Earl E.
	RG	Sgt	Vandervert	Larry
F4	RG	S/Sgt	Vey	Howard
	TG	Sgt	Kuizinski	Bernard

Larry Vandervert was killed by flack May 29 ; Howard Vey died of cancer 1982

Capt Lewis L. Robinson, “The Skipper” after a mission; 1st Lt Max Henderson after a mission

Lewis stayed in service and was shot down in Vietnam

Flight Engineer Roy McNamee, promoted to Flight Officer

Roy McNamee at Flight Engineers Panel; can see #3 & #4 engines from here

****O****

Kansas Farm boy, B-29 Pilot, to 93rd Sqd, 19th BG, Guam; 29 Missions and Back

In July 1994 ltr, Lt Max Henderson, Pilot writes:

I was born in 1924 on a farm in Kansas -- times were very difficult and as the years went by I knew this was not the life I wanted to continue. After finishing high school I enlisted in the Army Air Corps. I took my first battery of tests in Kansas City MO -- these were necessary for being accepted into the “Cadet” program, the year was 1942.

That December after passing all the necessary tests, I was sent to Jefferson Barracks, MO, for my 6 weeks of “adjustment time”, or Basic Training. Completing 6 miserable weeks of ice, snow and pneumonia.

We sere sent to 352 Training Detachment in Superior, Wisconsin -- it was heaven compared to J.B. On completion of our Wisconsin studies we were sent by troop train (8 days of WW I living conditions) to Santa Ana California, Squadron #40. I had always had my sights set on being a pilot and was hopeful I could make the grade. We really had a “workout” with every test and endurance grading possible.

Having survived again I was sent to Thunderbird Field in Glendale, Arizona, to begin my actual meeting and getting aquatinted with an airplane. It was a Stearman PT-17, a beautiful bird to learn to fly in. I soloed after 7 hours of instruction. What an experience -- I shall never forget -- it was terrific!

Completing training there we were sent to Lancaster, California, to our “Basic” and bigger plane BT-13 “Vultee Vibrator”, but it was a good plane and much progress was made in experience of flying.

Our next assignment was to Marfa, TX. This is where the real precision flying started to come together. We were flying AT-17 Cessna twin engine. Was quite a change from single engine aircraft. We received our wings, with a great celebration which a 10 day delay in route was most welcome.

After spending a most joyful time at my former home with friends, I was sent on to Hobbs, NM, for B-17 training. It truly was a great encounter when we 1st flew the 17 -- what a great airplane!

After completing our training there we were sent to Lincoln, NB, for overseas assignment. We waited for our orders but they failed to come as conditions in Europe were slowing down and the end near, so we were sent to Pyote, Texas, for B-29 transition.

Back to Texas was not the most pleasant thought at this time but we went hoping for the best. Once there we were assigned into a crew and started our initial B-29 experiences.

Our AC, airplane commander, was Lt Lewis M. Robinson of Bay City Michigan, with “instructor time” before his assignment to our crew. I was Pilot (MOS 1093), and we worked together trying to figure out all the finer details of being in control of this “big beast”. Our crew developed into a fine working relationship and soon were on our way to Kearney, NB, for our overseas’s assignment. From there to Mather Field, CA, where we had orders cut waiting for us and on to our destination of Guam.

I was on Guam from Feb 1945 to Nov 1945 assigned to the 93rd Sqd, 19th BG, Crew 97.

We had many harrowing experiences while flying 29 missions. Our awards were DFC with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters [two Distinguished Flying Crosses]. We lost two members of our crew during combat. Our ship was named “Old Battle Axe” and it really did it’s job well. With excellent navigation by Lt Roy Ten of Provo Utah, we were able to live through this period and find our way home on its completion. With the Atom Bomb putting the frosting on the already devastated cities, Japan was ready to call it quits.

Our crew was split up and sent home in various ways and times. But we all arrived back in good old USA Nov 1945 and glad that our experiences were behind us. My bride to be was waiting for me in Los Angeles where I was discharged from Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, CA. We were married and we took a months vacation, including an extensive trip to midwest.

On our return I began employment at Sears Roebuck & Co, retiring with 40 years of service and settling in our final company move in Santa Barbara, CA, where we are living at present. My family of four, 3 girls and 1 son are the pride of our lives. We have 14 grand children and one great grandchild. Life has been good and we’re hoping for many more great years to come.

Members of Lt Lewis Robinson’s Crew #97 at 19th BG Reunion at Seattle Aug 1992

Don Semelback, Gunner; Max Henderson, Pilot; Gene Pavey, Bombardier; Ray Tew, Navigatior; Ray McNamee, Flight Engineer.