World War II Honoree

Donald Patrick Flynn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Oswego, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 4 OCTOBER 1943 AT SYRACUSE, NEW YORK. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT WALKER ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR VICTORIA, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 500TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 883RD BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 29 NOVEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE TAIL STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE Z-SQUARE-44 (SERIAL # 42-65218). IT WAS ONE OF 29 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED ON A NIGHT-RADAR MISSION TO BOMBARD THE INDUSTRIAL AREA OF TOKYO, JAPAN. NO GROUP FORMATION FLYING WAS SCHEDULED, AND FIELD ORDER # 23 DIRECTED EACH AIRCREW TO PROCEED INDIVIDUALLY TO THE TARGET, RELEASE THEIR BOMBS USING RADAR, AND TO RETURN INDIVIDUALLY TO ISLEY FIELD. THERE WERE NO ESCORT AIRCRAFT PROVIDED DURING THE 15-HOUR ROUND-TRIP FLIGHT. OVER THE TARGET AREA, ONLY ONE BOMBER REPORTED THAT IT HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY AN ENEMY FIGHTER PLANE. ONLY TWO AIRCRAFT REPORTED FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY, AND THAT WAS DESCRIBED AS INACCURATE. HIS B-29 WAS THE ONLY AIRCRAFT THAT FAILED TO RETURN TO SAIPAN, AND NO RADIO DISTRESS SIGNALS WERE EVER RECEIVED. HE WAS DECLARED KILLED IN ACTION, SINCE HIS AIRCRAFT WAS NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM AGAIN.