Based on information in Ssgt Brown’s Individual Deceased Personnel
File ( IDPF ), the crew was formed at Clovis AAF during mid-September
through 18 December1944.
They did not become a part of the 498th Bomb Group until their arrival
on Saipan.
On the 20th of December they departed for Herington AAF, Kansas.
They left Herington on 11 January 1945 and arrived on Saipan 19 January
1945.
This is documented below in the 873rd Bomb Squadron Morning Report.
There is nothing stating how they reached Saipan.
A likely scenario is by rail to Hamilton AAF, Novato, California,
and then by C-54 to Hickam AAF, Oahu.
From there they flew on a C-54 across the Pacific to Saipan.
There are a few interesting situations concerning this crew.
Lt Fisher did not fly T-4, SN (42-24611), ( Little Jo ),
until the 29 April 1945 Mission.
The Missing Air Crew Report in Page 2 has her nickname as Little Joe.
Below the photo of Little Jo is a picture of the crew taken most likely
between 9 February and 27 March 1945.
Lt Fisher and TSgt Lewis are not in the photo.
TSgt Lewis was transferred to the 875th Bomb Squadron on
February 8th and returned to the 873rd on March 27th.
Lt Bonner arrived on Saipan with the Alexander crew and his first mission
as
Aircraft Commander took place on 3 March 1945 flying T-1 ( 42-24727
).
Lt Fisher’s first mission as Aircraft Commander was on 16 March 1945,
flying T-1 ( 42-24727 ).
Most of his missions during the remainder of March and into April
were on this B-29.
Occasionally he flew T-6 ( 42-24695 ).
Little Jo B-29 was shot down 29 April 1945 on the mission to Miyakonojo
Airfield, Kyushu.
A few details are in Page 2 (The MACR ) and in Page 3.
