Thanks to Sgt Angelo J. Piecora (Tail Gunner)  and his son Joe Piecora; Andy Wilson, son of Cpt Ralph C. Wilson (Aircraft Commander); Hitesh Chitalia, son-in-law of S/Sgt George Fedowich (Radarman).

The “White Mistress” with 36 missions.
Photo provided by Elizabeth Koch-Colson, granddaughter of S/Sgt Mthhew H. Koch (R Gunner, “Battlin’ Betty”, 40 Squadron), all rights reserved.

The POW Mission

The “White Mistress” was a veteran of 45 bombing missions and was credited with 3 kills.  Her career came to an abrupt end when she attempted to abort a takeoff on a PW Supply mission.  The A/C was Lewis W. Graham.

A picture of this accident from a different angle appears in Steve Birdsall, “Superfortress – The B-29”, Squadron/Signal Publications, p. 10.

The original crew of “White Mistress” was crew #4007.   The aircraft was flown by several crews, including the crew of Capt Paul E. Ward (crew #4014).  Assuming that the first crew flew “White Mistress” for 35 missions, then the other crews had accumulated 10 missions at the time of the last mission.

The crew chief was M/Sgt R. G. Felty.

A couple of the ground crew relax.
Photo courtesy of Hitesh Chitalia

The “White Mistress” gets an overhaul early in her career.