World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Edwin L. Minkwitz
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Millville, New Jersey
Honored By
Sam E. Pennartz
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 29 JANUARY 1944 AT FORT GEORGE G. MEADE NEAR ODENTON, MARYLAND. ASSIGNED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 313TH BOMB WING, 505TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 484TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTH FIELD ON TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 10 FEBRUARY 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE RIGHT BLISTER STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED 'SASSY LASSY' (TAIL # 42-24867). IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES. HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED OUT OF GROUP FORMATION AND SHOT DOWN, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.