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39th Bomb Group (VH)
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"Eight Ball"
B-29 # 42-93966
"Eight Ball II"

B-29 # 44-87638
5

Crew 08
L to R:
Back Row:
Charles Gensler, RO; Carmine Camperlino, CFC

Middle Row:
Andrew Langan, RG; Robert Breakiron, TG; 

Norbert Anderson, LG;

Front Row:
Edwin Herman, FE; Robert E. Drake, Pilot


Crew 8 was selected as lead and pathfinder crew during training in Salina, Kansas. A persuasive reason for their crew being chosen was the extensive B-17 combat experience that Airplane Commander Leo Lewis had compiled in Europe. A further consideration was the overall impressive background of the other crewmembers. 

The Group's, first mission to Koriyama was led by P-8. Accompanying them was Colonel George W. Mundy, Group Commander. Though it was the unit's first taste of anti-aircraft fire and fighter opposition, the leadership demonstrated by Captain Lewis and his crew was exemplary. Bombing results were outstanding. Airplane Commander Lewis, Captain Becht, Lt. Edwards, and Lt. Wingo were all awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for their participation in this mass successful mission. 

For the Otake mission, 10 May 1945, the 39th Bomb Group was chosen to lead the entire 314th Bomb Wing with P-8 acting as lead aircraft. Bombing results were spectacular. Our intelligence determined that the first bomb hit within ten feet of the aiming point. This was followed up by succeeding formations choosing aiming points to the right and left of this primary aiming point. It was estimated that 96% of all bombs fell within the target area, and 90% landed within 1,000 feet of the three aiming points. This particular mission was judged as one of the most successful precision bombing attacks of the Pacific Air War. 

The Group received a Unit Citation for this raid; Lt. Asa Edwards and Lt. Douglas Wingo each were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Crew 8 flew Pathfinder on most of the 17 night raids they participated in. They would often find themselves alone and undetected over the target until their first bombs fell on the designated objective. This resulted in intense concentration of flak and searchlight beams on the pathfinders. 

During one of the night raids on Tokyo, Crew 8 was in the midst of its bomb run when Lt. Edwards, bombardier, looked up and spotted a Baka coming head-on into them. He shouted, "Pull up, Leo!!" If Lewis had hesitated long enough to inquire, "Why?"- It would unquestionably have been the demise of P-8 and her crew. After leaving the target area, Capt. Lewis queried, "Why'd we do that during the bomb run?" When given an explanation by Edwards, Lewis' only retort was I figured you had a good reason." This was an example of the trust and respect that the crew held for each other. 

In May of 1945, the 314th Bomb Wing selected Crew 8 as instructors in the first Lead Crew School conducted. Student crews were enrolled from each of the Bomb Groups. Their graduation flight was to the island of Truk with members of Crew 8 dispersed among the various aircraft. Intelligence had declared the island safe. NOT SO!! Substantial flak was encounter resulting in some damage to each B-29. Even so, all returned safely having earned the designation - Lead Crew. 

Although Crew 8 had its serious moments, there were lighter ones too. One of these occurred on the Kobe mission, 5 June 1945. Again P-8 was lead aircraft and Group Commander; Colonel George W. Mundy was aboard. It was Colonel Mundy's practice to hang over the bombardier's shoulder during the bomb run and bomb drop so he could better observe results of the bombing. At the moment of release, Lt. Edwards turned the squadron into the smoke column, but unfortunately misjudged its intensity. The thermal updraft bounced Edwards from his seat striking Mundy forcibly in the chin. It threw the Colonel several feet backwards where he landed beside the Flight Engineer. 

Colonel Mundy picking himself up and commented "That will teach me to get in the way" 

Another incident, both amusing and serious, happened to P-8 on a mission to Yokohama, 29 May 1945. (Mission # 9 for Crew 8) Captain Becht, radar observer, for the first time, decided to leave his "darkroom" and observe the bomb drop from the right gunner's position. Suddenly, a burst of flak exploded beneath the aircraft inflicting severe damage to the right wing area as well as knocking out # 4 engine. Some harm was also done to the radar compartment. The right wing smoldered all the way back to Iwo Jima. After moments of apprehension, Capt. Lewis landed the crippled bomber safely. No one could offer an explanation as to why the burning wing had not resulted in an explosion. Crew 8 left the aircraft at Iwo, and was assigned another upon return to Guam. Possibly Becht decided that wandering out of his "cocoon" had brought on ill luck, but whatever the reason, Joe stayed tucked away in his "hole" after that.

Continued
60th Squadron Crew Index
Sources: Asa B. Edwards for the book "History of the 39th Bomb Group"