If you knew or served with this Airman and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Clio, Alabama
Last Address Montgomery, Alabama
Date of Passing Sep 13, 1998
Location of Interment Greenwood Cemetery - Montgomery, Alabama
He enlisted Oct 20, 1942 not long after getting a law degree. He had worked his way through law school by boxing, doing food service jobs, and driving a cab. In the USAAF, he entered pilot cadet training but washed out. It turns out he had gotten spinal meningitis in basic training and this prevented him from becoming a pilot. He trained as an aircraft mechanic and flight engineer and then flew B-29 combat missions in the Pacific. While doing so he served under Gen. Curtis E. LeMay who later in life would become his political running mate. Due to his health problems he was given a medical discharge in 1945.
Aircraft/Missile Information
Model Boeing B-29A Superfortress Length 99.02 ft | 30.18 m Width 142.26 ft | 43.36 m Height 29.56 ft | 9.01 m Engine(s) 4 x Wright R-3350-57 radial piston engines generating 2,200hp. Empty Weight 71,361 lbs | 32,369 kg MTOW 141,102 lbs | 64,003 kg Max Speed 358 mph | 576 km/h | 311 kts Max Range 4,100 miles | 6,598 km Ceiling 31,808 ft | 9,695 m | 6.0 miles Climb Rate 526.3 ft/min (160.4 m/min) Hardpoints 0 Armament 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated dorsal turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in electrically-operated under-nose turret 2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret over rear fuselage. 2 x 12.7mm machine guns electrically-operated turret under rear fuselage 2 x 12.7mm machine guns in tail gun position 1 x 20mm cannon in tail gun position
6,000lbs or internal ordnance. Accommodations 10 Operators the United States of America