Memorials › 1LT Martin Holt Nicholson
1LT Martin Holt Nicholson
1920 – 19 Feb 1945
| Birth | 1920 |
| Death | 19 Feb 1945 |
| Cemetery | Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery Lemay Township , St. Louis County , Missouri , USA |
| Added by | Sam Pennartz on 11 Feb 2022 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/45701775 |
Gravesite details
Burial March 17, 1949.
Bio
Pilot 1st/Lt. Martin H. Nicholson KIA Home: Kingsville, Texas. Unit: 877 Bomb Sq 499 Bomb Gp Service ID: O-724699. Pilot 1LT Martin H. Nicholson Target: Tokyo Mission Date: 15-Feb-45 Serial Number: #42-65222 Aircraft Model B-29-15-MO Superfortress Aircraft Letter: Aircraft Name: Super Wabbit Location: Lake Kawaguchi, Cause: Rammed by kamikaze Ki-45 fighter while on mission over Tokyo, Japan. All eleven crew KIA. Took off Aslito Field (Isley Field) on Saipan for a bombing mission against Tokyo. Flying in the 2nd element, 2nd position. Clouds covered the primary target, the Musashino aircraft plant. Instead, the B-29s bombed the port and urban area of Tokyo. Over the target, they were intercepted by four 53rd Sentai Ki-45 Nicks led by Lt. Aoki over Tokyo Bay. The Ki-45 piloted by Yamada rammed this B-29 from head on while making a steep turn. Observed by other B-29s, the left wingtip folded over and broke off, causing the B-29 to spin twice, break apart and crash. No crew members were seen to bail out. Wreckage Crashed near Lake Kawaguchi, the wreckage was inspected by the Japanese. The bodies of the crew were found at the crash site and buried in a local cemetery. The entire crew was declared dead the day of the mission. Postwar the remains of the crew were exhumed and transported to the United States for final burial at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Super Wabbit Crew: 1LT Martin H. Nicholson , Pilot 1LT Ernest J. B. Nelson , Co Pilot 2LT William S. Nelson, Jr ., Navigator 2LT Glenn O. Rohden , Bombardier 2LT Martin L. Forbes , Engineer SSGT Robert W. Lee , Gunner* SGT Robert O. Grote , Radio Operator SGT Selig H. Bauch , Radar Operator SGT Clarence E. Den Boer , Gunner SGT Luther D. Otto , Gunner SGT Martin F. Siltanen , Gunner
Inscription
1LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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