S/Sgt Paul Edward Dreyer (1923-1945) - Find A Grave Memorial

Born Paul Edward Dreyer in 1923 at Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland.

Enlisted (ASN: 13137567) in the Army Air Forces on 10 December 1942 at Baltimore, Maryland. Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Walker Army Air Field near Victoria, Kansas. Deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 500th Bombardment Group, 882nd Bomb Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

On 3 January 1945, he flew as the Radar Operator aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, nicknamed "The Leading Lady" (serial #42-24766) Tail Code: Z-Square-22.

It was one of 97 aircraft launched in a multi-group formation to bombard the port facilities and urban areas of Nagoya, Japan. Returning aircrews noted that "flak" from anti-aircraft artillery was meager, and enemy fighter aircraft attacks were described as moderate, with 346 passes reported. About 10 minutes after bombs away, his aircraft exchanged gunnery fire with an attacking Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien "Tony" fighter plane. His bomber aircraft was struck by the "Tony" between the nose fuselage and the #3 engine.

SSGT Dreyer was killed when his disabled aircraft crashed and burned about 30 kilometers southeast of Nagoya, in Sodame forest near the village of Matsudaira.

NOTE: the only survivor was SGT Harold T. Hedges (Tail Gunner) who was listed as a POW.

Paul E Dreyer