B-29 Combat Mission Over Japan Cockpit Recording

[B29Gunner]

Hi friends,

If you've ever wondered what a B-29 combat mission over Japan was like, this video I put together is about as close as you'll ever get! It features a cockpit recording made with Lt. Frank Crowcroft's crew from the 29th Bomb Group on March 31, 1945, and you can even hear the bombardier firing his gun turrets at the attacking Japanese fighters. It is truly an incredible piece of history, and we are so fortunate that it was preserved in the National Archives!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwd9Pv6rbQk

For anyone interested, I devote a whole chapter to this crew and the recording in my new book, The Heroes We Needed: The B-29ers Who Ended World War II and My Fight to Save the Forgotten Stories of the Greatest Generation. Check out the book on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Heroes-We-Needed-Forgotten-Generation/dp/180451165X



(Edit: the video embed doesn't appear to be working on WIX at the moment?)

[phil65]

Works for me..

Phil

[Noha307]

I appreciate the "he was home on leave last Christmas" remark followed by the "two of the crewmember's wives are expecting babies any day now" comment during what was presumably an early May interview.

[B29Gunner]

Works for me..

Phil

That's strange. I've tried it on three different devices, and the video doesn't embed?

[B29Gunner]

I appreciate the "he was home on leave last Christmas" remark followed by the "two of the crewmember's wives are expecting babies any day now" comment during what was presumably an early May interview.

Their B-29 was rammed by a Japanese fighter a week after the cockpit recording was made, so the interview with the family members was made before they were informed that their loved ones were Missing In Action, sadly.

[Mark Allen M]

Japanese view.

https://youtu.be/rYUfVd87VHs