Devilish Snooks

The powerful Wright engines accelerated slowly as the pilot gently pushed the four throttles forward propelling the Air Transport Command C-54 down Miami Municipal Airport’s long concrete runway.  Excitement and tension gripped the thirty-two passengers as the huge aircraft became airborne.

It was 8:30 p.m. on March 15, 1944.

Those passengers seated by the small windows were able to see numerous automobile headlights probing the criss-crossing streets below clearly outlined in the twilight engulfed city by a multitude of streetlights and glittering and flashing neon signs.  The metropolis slid slowly behind and then disappeared as the aircraft banked sharply to the right, picked up its outbound course to the southeast and entered a thin layer of clouds.

The passengers adjusted their seat belts and moved their reclining seats to a more comfortable position.  Each bid a silent goodbye to Uncle Sam, fully aware that it could be a long time before they returned, perhaps never.  Regardless of what the future might hold, the nine members of the first B-29 Superfortress combat crew to go overseas were very excited.

The inception of the B-29 Superfortress occurred on November 10, 1939 when the government authorized the Boeing Airplane Company to begin manufacturing the plane on May 17, 1941.  Production of the new aircraft was delayed several months due to the crash that killed Eddie Allen, Boeing’s chief test pilot, and twenty eight others on February 18, 1943.  After several design changes, the first production model rolled off the assembly line in July.

The first B-29 organization, the 58^th Bombardment Wing, VH, (Very Heavy), with Brigadier General Kenneth B. Wolfe in command, was activated at Marietta, Georgia on June 1, 1943.  On November 17 of that year the unit was officially transferred to Smokey Hill Army AirField near Salina, Kansas.

The 58^th Wing comprised four Bombardment Groups, all assigned to air bases in Kansas.  The 73^rd, with Colonel Chapman in command, was also stationed at Salina.  The 444^th, located at Great Bend AAF, was commanded by Colonel Harvey while Colonel Richie was the commander of the 462^nd at Walker AAF.  Colonel Lewis R. Parker commanded the 40^th Bomb Group assigned to Pratt AAF.