2LT William E Welsh (1923-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial

ENLISTED AS A PRIVATE (ASN: 15126785) IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 10 DECEMBER 1942 AT COLUMBUS, OHIO.

SELECTED FOR THE AVIATION CADET PROGRAM, HE COMPLETED 9 MONTHS OF INSTRUCTION IN PRIMARY, BASIC, AND ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING.

RECEIVED SILVER PILOT "WINGS" AND WAS COMMISSIONED A SECOND LIEUTENANT (ASN: O-822577) IN THE USAAF AT STUTTGART ARMY AIR FIELD, ARKANSAS.

SUBSEQUENTLY ASSIGNED TO THE B-29 PROGRAM, HE UNDERWENT 4-ENGINE AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT FAIRMONT ARMY AIR FIELD IN FILLMORE COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

IN LATE 1944, HE DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATION, 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 313TH BOMB WING, 504TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 398TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTH FIELD ON TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS.

ON 10 FEBRUARY 1945, HE FLEW AS A PILOT IN THE RIGHT SEAT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS (SERIAL #42-24790).

IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES.

HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT SUFFERED HEAVY DAMAGE AND ON THE RETURN ROUTE HOME WAS FORCED TO DITCH APPROXIMATELY 275 MILES NORTH OF TINIAN, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.