https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56135025/john-t_-weir

Born in 1921 at Sangamon County, Illinois to parents: Arthur Lewis Weir (b. 16 Dec 1888) and Rhoda Beatrice (Tilton) Weir (b. 27 Aug 1892 at Springfield, IL ~ d. 10 June 1993 at Fort Worth, TX).

John Tilton Weir enlisted (ASN: 19101001) as an Aviation Cadet in the Army Air Corps on 14 January 1942 at San Antonio, Texas.

Completed Basic pilot flight traing at Goodfellow Field, class 42-H; and after Advanced was commissioned (ASN: O-664098) a Second Lieutenant in the USAAF.

Assigned to 505th BG aircrew #83-06, he underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Harvard Army Air Field, Nebraska.

In December 1944, deployed to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations, and was assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 313th Bomb Wing, 505th Bombardment Group (Very Heavy), 483rd Bomb Squadron stationed at North Field (aka;Ushi Point Airfield) on Tinian in the Mariana Islands.

On 5 January 1945, he flew in the left seat as the Airplane Command Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29 Superfortress nicknamed "29th SeaBees" (serial #42-24781), tail code: K-Triangle-22, call sign: Victor-22.

The aircrew flew in formation on a training mission to Guguan Island. While at an altitude of 28,000 feet, the #2 engine developed an oil problem and caught fire. In an attempt to put out the fire, he feathered the #2 propellor and began to descend. However the left wing structure caught fire and burned off during the descent.

At about 18,000 feet, the ship became uncontrollable and a bail-out order was issued. The aircraft crashed and exploded in the sea approximately 184 nautical miles north of Tinian, near Guguan Island at a geographic location of 17-20N and 145-51E.

Initially listed as MIA, then officially declared dead 1 year later on 6 January 1946.

John T Weir