Virginia P Bierkan

People Buried Here

Description

**JOHN...For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight 25 May 1945 from a base in the Marianas Islands. These individuals were crew members of a B-29 acting as a pathfinder plane of a low level night incendiary attack against important and heavily-guarded industrial targets in Tokyo, Japan. Flying skillfully through adverse weather conditions which necessitated navigation by instrument, they made landfall precisely at the briefed time and place. Then, although their plane was outlined by more than three hundred searchlights, damaged by heavy and accurate anti-aircraft fire and attacked by enemy fighters, they proceeded to the target. Employing radar instruments, they bombed with such accuracy that the target area was clearly defined for the main force. Above the target and for miles on the homeward journey, interceptors attacked constantly, but the gunners shot down three enemy ships and damaged another, while the plane was maneuvered so expertly that it remained unhit. During this time, the bombardier and flight engineer were in the open bomb bay attempting, at great risk to themselves to close the bomb bay doors, which had malfunctioned. The navigator manned the bombardier's gun position. Heavy icing conditions were encountered on the return trip, but this crew brought the B-29 safely back to it's base. The professional skill, teamwork and determination displayed by these veterans of repeated assaults against the Japanese homeland reflect great credit on themselves and the Army Air Forces.

Major JOHN A. BIERKAN (then Captain) as Airplane Commander *****************

First Lieutenant KENNETH F. GROGAN as Navigator

First Lieutenant JOHN M. MICKELSON as Bombardier

Master Sergeant PAUL K. TEMPLETON as Flight Engineer

Staff Sergeant JOHN C. HOLDEN as Blister Gunner

Staff Sergeant GEORGE M. LEWIS as Central Fire Control Gunner

Staff Sergeant EDWARD L. SHOCK as Radio Operator

Staff Sergeant ROBERT A. WAINIO as Radar Gunner

[Transcribed by David Wilson, son of Sgt Bernard E. Wilson (Gunner, "Anonymous IV")]