World War II Honoree

Harry Goin, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bloomington, Indiana

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 30 OCTOBER 1942 AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON NEAR INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT GREAT BEND ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 498TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 874TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 3 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE T-SQUARE-29 (SERIAL # 42-24181). IT WAS ONE OF 86 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MUSASHINO AIRCRAFT WORKS AND NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS HEAVY AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, WITH 75 PASSES REPORTED. AFTER THE BOMB-RUN, HIS AIRCRAFT HAD ONE ENGINE OUT FROM FLAK, AND ANOTHER IN THE PROCESS OF BEING FEATHERED. LAST CONTACT WAS BY RADIO AT 31 DEGREES +48 MINUTES NORTH, AND 141 DEGREES +59 MINUTES EAST. HE WAS KILLED WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 400 MILES SOUTHEAST OF TOKYO, JAPAN.