The men that flew with Lt Joe Stanley McSpadden were a replacement crew.
They trained in various locations based upon their specialty and
came together as a unit at Clovis Army Air Field in September 1944.

Below the crew photo are two Morning Reports from their unit,
497th Bomb Group, 871st Bomb Squadron

They were assigned to this unit by XXI Bomber Command
upon arriving at Saipan around 15 March 1945.

Within the 73rd Bomb Wing and 497th Bomb Group
there are no load lists of the men who were on a Mission.

Thus, the only known crew member is the Aircraft Commander ( left seat ).


From the middle of March until 6 May 1945,
Lt McSpadden was scheduled to fly each of the below B-29s :

On 12 April 1945 A-56 aborted.
His final mission took place while flying A-56
6 May 1945

A-47	1
A-48	2
A-49	1
A-50	1
A-56	5

 

The first Morning Report is dated 15 March 1945 and
lists first the Officers and then the Enlisted Men in Lt McSpadden's crew.

The second is dated 6 May 1945 and
states the name of each crew member and status
Missing in Action

source
Roy Wall
National Archives
St Louis Missouri