World War II Honoree

William Altman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kansas City, Missouri

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 28 FEBRUARY 1943 AT BOCA RATON ARMY AIR FIELD, FLORIDA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT PRATT 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, 497TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 870TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 3 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW AS THE FLIGHT ENGINEER ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE A-SQUARE-30 (SERIAL # 42-63461). 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. HE WAS KILLED ON THE RETURN ROUTE, WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAIPAN.