World War II Honoree

Raymond E. Foster

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Adams, Massachusetts

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

SERVED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND GRADUATED FROM PRIMARY FLYING SCHOOL. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND OPERATIONAL COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT SMOKY HILL ARMY AIR FIELD NEAR SALINA, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 499TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 877TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 19-20 JULY 1945, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE V-SQUARE-11 (SERIAL #44-87652). IT WAS ONE OF 130 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED TO BOMBARD THE URBAN AREA OF HITACHI, JAPAN. THE MISSION WAS FLOWN IN DARKNESS, AND NOT IN FORMATION. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS DESCRIBED AS MODERATE, AND ONLY ONE ENEMY AIRCRAFT WAS REPORTED BY THE GROUP. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN AT TAKE-OFF AND NEVER RETURNED TO SAIPAN. NO RADIO OR VISUAL CONTACT WAS ESTABLISHED AFTER DEPARTURE FROM ISLEY.