Capt Roger E Parrish Jr. (1920-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 3 JANUARY 1941 AT FORT OGLETHORPE, GEORGIA. COMPLETED PILOT TRAINING ON 15 AUGUST 1941 AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT AT BARKSDALE FIELD NEAR SHREVEPORT, LOUISIANA.

ASSIGNED TO AIR TRANSPORT COMMAND, 6TH FERRYING GROUP AT LONG BEACH ARMY AIR FIELD, CALIFORNIA.

VOLUNTEERED FOR B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT SMOKY HILL ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR SALINA, KANSAS. DEPLOYED VIA AFRICA TO THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATRE AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XX BOMBER COMMAND, 58TH BOMB WING, 468TH BOMBARDMENT 'GENERAL BILLY MITCHELL' GROUP, 794TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT KHARAGPUR AIRFIELD IN THE BENGAL PROVINCE OF INDIA. AS PART OF OPERATION MATTERHORN TO BOMB JAPAN, HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT FLEW OVER THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAIN RANGE AND LOGISTICALLY STAGED A BOMBING MISSION THROUGH PENGSHAN AIRFIELD (A-7) NEAR CHENGDU, CHINA.

ON 7 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW IN THE LEFT SEAT AS THE AIRPLANE COMMAND PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED 'GALLOPIN’ GOOSE' (SERIAL # 42-6390).

IT WAS ONE OF 108 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD JAPANESE FORCES AT THE MANCHURIA AIRPLANE MANUFACTURING COMPANY AND AN ADJACENT ARSENAL AT MUKDEN IN SHENYANG, CHINA. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP FORMATION WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF KAWASAKI KI-45 'NICK' TWIN-ENGINE FIGHTER PLANES. HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT WAS RAMMED BY ONE OF THE BATTLE DAMAGED JAPANESE PLANES, SHEARING OFF THE LEFT HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STABILIZERS.

HE WAS KILLED DURING THE ENSUING CRASH OF HIS DISABLED BOMBER.

Ref: MACR 10101

Capt. Roger Elmo Parrish, Jr. O-424016 ~ APC Pilot (left seat)

Capt Roger E Parrish Jr. (1920-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

1st Lt. Adrian Abraham Walters O-751215 ~ Pilot (right seat) https://www.fold3.com/page/85387457-adrian-a-walters

Flt Off. Warren McKay Barbour T-192916 ~ Flight Engineer https://www.fold3.com/page/85517543-warren-m-barbour

1st Lt. Robert Harold Roseland O-811388 ~ Navigator-Bombardier https://www.fold3.com/page/84415012-robert-h-roseland

1st Lt. Patrick E. Collins O-690371 ~ Bombardier-Navigator https://www.fold3.com/page/83400316-patrick-e-collins

SSgt. Joseph Michael Clarke 32429705 Brooklyn, NY ~ RADAR

SGT Joseph M Clarke (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

SSgt. John Lopez 37341146 Colorado ~ Radio Operator

SSGT John Lopez (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

SSgt. Fred Seffern Mac Isaac 31307563 Mich/Mass ~ Central Fire Control Ring Gunner

SSGT Fred S. MacIsaac (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

SSgt. Joseph Albert Moorhead, Jr. 35561375 Illinois/Indiana ~ Left Blister Gunner

SSGT Joseph A Moorhead Jr. (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

SSgt. Robert Joseph Turner 35092810 Indiana ~ Right Blister Gunner

SSGT Robert J Turner (unknown-1944) - Find A Grave Memorial

SSgt. Arnold Glen Pope 18188996 ~ Tail Gunner (survived 1921-1991)

Arnold Glen Pope (1921-1991) - Find A Grave Memorial