Robert A. Mitchell, Jr.
2/22/20 - 11/9/50
"We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields, and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender!"
Sir Winston Churchill
While searching on the internet one day, I came across the site B-29s Over Korea (see link). I was reading the wonderful articles and gazing at all the photos. And there in one of the articles, written by William Welch, I saw one picture of the crash and a brief description of what happened. I was floored. There on the 54th anniversary of his death, I was able to start to piece together the details of that final day. As I read other articles at the site, I came across a photo gallery taken by Wayland Mayo, an aerial photo gunner on B-29 Tiger Lil. As I went through the gallery I found a total of four pictures of the crash site. Not knowing Wayland I decided to e-mail him and introduce myself as the son of the pilot of the B-29. The next day Wayland sent me a return e-mail detailing the crash. Apparently, B-29 #44-61813 had been taking reconnaissance photos over the Yalu River at the China/Korean border. The plane was attacked by Russian MIG-15s and was severely damaged. MIGs had just entered the war and were being flown by the best of the best Russian pilots. A Major Bordun received the credit for crippling this aircraft. Two of the engines on left side had been shot up and were no longer operating. Dad and his co-pilot managed to creep home to Johnson AFB. Upon their final approach for a crash landing something went horribly wrong and the nose of the aircraft suddenly dove into the ground. I can only think that there must have been a loss of hydraulic fluid or some other mechanical failure. Upon crashing, the plane split in half and the wings crashed over the front section killing all but one occupant of the cockpit. Interestingly, the lone survivor from the cockpit was Harry Lavene who had been the tail gunner. While being attacked, military records show that he was the first enlisted man to shoot down a MIG-15 from a B-29. Ironically, Harry had come forward to sit in the jump seat, behind the pilot's seat, due to the imminent crash landing. The photos taken by Wayland Mayo are, as far as I know, the only existing photos of the crash. How fortunate for me to find these after all of that time. After receiving Wayland's e-mail, my mom was able to call him at his home and, I am sure, had a wonderful and sincere talk.
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Here is the e-mail I received from Wayland Mayo which helped me with my research:
"Hello Tom,
In answer to your email perhaps I can shed some light on the tragic event as I was an eyewitness. Our squadron, the 91st SRS was originally stationed at Kadena AFB on Okinawa, and then moved for a short stay at Johnson AFB in Japan. Next move was our last to Yokota AFB. One day I was drinking a coke on the flight line after loading our guns for a mission the next day. Suddenly there was a lot of activity with trucks, jeeps, etc rushing down to the end of the runway. My pilot, Captain Torry, told me they had just received a radio message from 813 saying they had been jumped by Migs and received severe damage to two engines on one side, both now feathered. The possibility of flying across the ocean with two out on one side all the way back to base was of course very slim. I grabbed my camera and caught a ride in a passing jeep to the end of the runway. We waited for what seemed an eternity, and then suddenly there in the distance was 813 . She had made it back, a masterful flying job by the pilot. 813 began final approach and everything looked normal, except of course the damage to the two engines. As she approached the runway, lined up perfectly, the flaps were lowered. At that time the plane suddenly took a dive into the ground, just short of the runway. The front section dug into the ground turning upside down. The wing section flipped over and ended up upside down on top of the nose section. The aft section rode up on top of the wing section.
The nose section of course received major damage. At that time the back door opened and first to jump to safety was my best friend S/sgt Warren. I shot a whole roll of film, however during the years it disintergrated. The only photos remaining are the ones on my website. The photo of 813 on the flight line was taken the day before. 813 was always parked right next to my plane, Tiger Lil. Our crews were very well acquainted with each other, I was an enlisted man and your father was an aircraft commander. However I do remember having short conversations with him on numerous occasions. I must say he must have been one heck of a pilot to nurse that plane all the way back home, only to end up a few feet short of the runway. As I remember the tail gunner shot down a Mig, this being the first time a prop bomber had downed a jet fighter.
So that briefly is the story. It still lingers in my memory after all these years. A tragedy with little understanding as to "why".
The Korean war was full of incidents which convince us that the war was a no win situation, and yet if necessary I would gladly do it all again.
Wayland Mayo"
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That my friends brings a tear to my eyes each and every time I read it. Wayland, thank you for your help. You are truely a Great American!
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When dad died he left behind a wonderful, loving wife Eileen and two small children, Robert age four and nine month old Thomas (that's me). During my life, I always considered dad as the bravest man ever to walk this earth and a hero in his own right. As a child I would look at his pictures, read his mail and even wear his dress cap from time to time. For some reason, in today's days, I feel even more strongly attached to those values. I also feel that any man or woman who served in the armed forces is a hero, regardless of their rank or military experiences. It is only through their courage and determination that I am able to sit and write these words. I never knew dad as he died when I was only nine months old. However, I visit him often and gaze at the endless lines of white headstones, remembering the many lives that were saved as the result of his courage and that of so many others. I will always remember the "Old Man" as the bravest person in the world. I can only hope that during my life here on earth I can affect so many lives as he was able to.
Summer 2004, mom and I went to a local air show here on Long Island. On display was "FIFI" a functioning B-29 and "Diamond L'L" a B-24 Liberator. Dispite the searing heat we waited in line to get our chance to go into the cockpit. Once in mom was able to sit behind the pilot's seat, in the jump seat. I can't remember a brighter smile than she had that day. The photo below barely reflects the happiness that she had. She had never seen the inside of a B-29, let alone sit in the cockpit. I am so glad we had that opportunity.
Labor Day 1999 I received the honor of flying in "Diamond LiL" the B-24. I had written a letter about dad for a contest and was one of several participants who was picked to take a ride in the bomber. What a rush! I think we had ten onboard when we took off. Once in the air we were able to walk around in the rear secton. It was hard to imagine a crew, dressed in their protective flight suits, manning their stations and still being able to operate their weapons. The quarters were tight, the air freezingly cold and each had to be hooked up to oxygen canisters as they moved about. The tail gunner must have had to be a contortionist to sit comforably in the rear, if that was at all possible. And God bless the poor soul who operated the lower turret gun position. It was a thrill I will never forget.
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As I said previously, dad also served in WWII as a B-24 pilot. He was attached to the 484 BG and was stationed in Torretto Airfield, Italy in 1945. Here I have very little information. I am now in the process of researching his WWII records. I would love to find the serial number of his plane. With Wayland's help he suggested I find a Form #5 which would indicate his service record and would reflect the serial number. I think I may have seen this form or something similar at one time. Unfortunately, many records were lost as the result of a fire in St. Louis in 1973 at the National Records Center. As difficult and frustrating in finding information is, I am determined to find all the information available. I kind of feel a need to get the information and document it for our family.
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Abraham Lincoln, November 1864
Whenever I see them ride on high
Gleaming and proud in the morning sky
Or lying awake in bed at night
I hear them pass on their outward flight
I feel the mass of metal and guns
Delicate instruments, deadweight tons
Awkward, slow, bomb racks full
Straining away from downward pull
Straining away from home and base
And try to see the pilot's face
I imagine a boy who's just left school
On whose quick-learned skill and courage cool
Depend the lives of the men in his crew
And success of the job they have to do.
And something happens to me inside
That is deeper than grief, greater than pride
And though there is nothing I can say
I always look up as they go their way
And care and pray for every one,
And steel my heart to say,
"Thy will be done."
Sarah Churchill, daughter of Sir Winston
