Paul served as a Corporal and Left Gunner on B-29 #42-63468, 873rd Bomber Squadron, 498th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Jackson County, Michigan prior to the war.
B-29 #42-63468 took off, with a crew of 11, from Isely Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over the Nakajima aircraft plant, Ota, Japan. While over the target the B-29's #3 Prop. started to windmill. It is unknown if this was caused by them being hit by flak or not. The formation eventually lost contact and sight of them and it's believed that they later crashed into the sea. The entire crew was lost.
Paul was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 36873216
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29-A #42-63468:
Breeland, W. C. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, TX
Britton, James S. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Clough, Harold A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
Klesli, Vincent J. ~ Corp, CFC, IL
Moody, Vern C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, AZ
Schimel, Harold D. ~ 2nd Lt, Flight Engineer, NY
Sinard, Eugene E. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, IL
Smith, Paul A. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, WI
Stewart, Harry K. ~ Corp, Radar Operator, PA
Switala, Paul, Jr. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, MI
Wilson, John F. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Jackson County, Michigan prior to the war.
B-29 #42-63468 took off, with a crew of 11, from Isely Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over the Nakajima aircraft plant, Ota, Japan. While over the target the B-29's #3 Prop. started to windmill. It is unknown if this was caused by them being hit by flak or not. The formation eventually lost contact and sight of them and it's believed that they later crashed into the sea. The entire crew was lost.
Paul was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 36873216
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29-A #42-63468:
Breeland, W. C. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, TX
Britton, James S. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Clough, Harold A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
Klesli, Vincent J. ~ Corp, CFC, IL
Moody, Vern C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, AZ
Schimel, Harold D. ~ 2nd Lt, Flight Engineer, NY
Sinard, Eugene E. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, IL
Smith, Paul A. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, WI
Stewart, Harry K. ~ Corp, Radar Operator, PA
Switala, Paul, Jr. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, MI
Wilson, John F. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
Paul served as a Corporal and Left Gunner on B-29 #42-63468, 873rd Bomber Squadron, 498th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Jackson County, Michigan prior to the war.
B-29 #42-63468 took off, with a crew of 11, from Isely Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over the Nakajima aircraft plant, Ota, Japan. While over the target the B-29's #3 Prop. started to windmill. It is unknown if this was caused by them being hit by flak or not. The formation eventually lost contact and sight of them and it's believed that they later crashed into the sea. The entire crew was lost.
Paul was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 36873216
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29-A #42-63468:
Breeland, W. C. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, TX
Britton, James S. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Clough, Harold A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
Klesli, Vincent J. ~ Corp, CFC, IL
Moody, Vern C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, AZ
Schimel, Harold D. ~ 2nd Lt, Flight Engineer, NY
Sinard, Eugene E. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, IL
Smith, Paul A. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, WI
Stewart, Harry K. ~ Corp, Radar Operator, PA
Switala, Paul, Jr. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, MI
Wilson, John F. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
He resided in Jackson County, Michigan prior to the war.
B-29 #42-63468 took off, with a crew of 11, from Isely Field, Saipan on a bombing mission over the Nakajima aircraft plant, Ota, Japan. While over the target the B-29's #3 Prop. started to windmill. It is unknown if this was caused by them being hit by flak or not. The formation eventually lost contact and sight of them and it's believed that they later crashed into the sea. The entire crew was lost.
Paul was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.
He was awarded an Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Service # 36873216
( Bio by: Russ Pickett )
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Airmen who perished on B-29-A #42-63468:
Breeland, W. C. ~ 2nd Lt, Pilot, TX
Britton, James S. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, CA
Clough, Harold A. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, NY
Klesli, Vincent J. ~ Corp, CFC, IL
Moody, Vern C. ~ Corp, Radio Operator, AZ
Schimel, Harold D. ~ 2nd Lt, Flight Engineer, NY
Sinard, Eugene E. ~ Corp, Right Gunner, IL
Smith, Paul A. ~ Corp, Left Gunner, WI
Stewart, Harry K. ~ Corp, Radar Operator, PA
Switala, Paul, Jr. ~ Corp, Tail Gunner, MI
Wilson, John F. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, CA
( Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )
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