Capt Jack A Nilsson (1919-1945) - Find A Grave Memorial

APC Pilot: O-421127Jack Andrew Nilsson Capt CA 24-April-1945 B-29 #44-70075 T-SQ-46

875th Bomber Squadron, 498th Bombardment Group (VH), 73rd Bomb Wing, XXI Bomber Command, 20th Air Force at Isely Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands; Western Pacific Theatre of Operations.

During the night of 23-24 May 1945, 44 B-29 Superforts from 498th Bombardment Group took off from Saipan for an incendiary mission against targets in south Tokyo. They joined up with other B-29 Superforts from four bomb wings to create an imposing total force of 558 aircraft headed for Japan. B29, tail code T-Square-46, piloted by Capt. "Jack" Nilsson, was in a pathfinder role, operating in total radio silence from the time it took off from Saipan. It was the pathfinder’s job to fly over the target ahead of the rest of the force to “light up” the target for the following bombers.

The Japanese air defenses were very active and ground-based searchlights picked up Nilsson’s B-29 pathfinder plane as it approached the target area. T-SQ-46 took multiple 20mm anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) cannon hits, including flak in the center wing tank. The plane caught fire and the “Bail out!” order was issued by Nilsson. The Superfortress was last seen going down in a spin and fell into Tokyo Bay, approximately one kilometer off the east coast of Tokyo Omori. It later washed up on shore, where the Japanese found the pilot and co-pilot dead in the plane.

B-17F Crashes and Burns Four Miles South of Mineral Wells - Ranch Partners

…the loss of B-17F serial #42-5719, at Mineral Wells TX on 11 March 1943

Army Air Forces Pilot School (Specialized 4-Engine) at Hobbs Army Air Field, New Mexico.

Texas Tabernacle by Jeff Clark