Ray Magie Tullis (b. 19 Nov 1916 - 20 July 1945)

Parents:

Ray Tullis b: 30 June 1892 in Iowa d: 28 Nov 1971 Ottumwa, Iowa;
Phoebe E. Magie b: 24 Dec 1896 in Illinois d: 24 Sept 1981.

Spouse: Doris Selma Watenpuhl (b. 26 Aug 1915 - d. 22 Oct 2002 Milwaukee, Wisconsin).

Enlisted as a Private in the Army Air Corps. Attended radar operator and aerial gunnery schools. Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and operational combat crew training at Smoky Hill Army Air Field near Salina, Kansas. Deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 499th Bombardment Group, 877th Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

During the night of 19-20 July 1945, he flew as an Aerial Gunner aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Tail Code V-Square-11 (Serial #44-87652).

It was one of 130 aircraft launched to bombard the urban area of Hitachi, Japan. The planned 15-hour round-trip mission was flown in darkness, and not in formation. Flak from anti-aircraft artillery was experienced by one-third of the B-29 aircraft, and only one enemy aircraft was reported by the group. His aircraft was last seen at take-off and never returned to Saipan. No radio or visual contact was established after departure from Isley Field.

He was declared killed in action one year later on 21 July 1946.

Ray Magie Tullis

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