BLACK, 2nd Lt. Bernard S. "Bunny" ~ WWII

BLACK, YOUNG

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 9/10/2013 at 11:16:42

2nd Lt. Bernard S. "Bunny" Black

Second Lieutenant Bernard S. "Bunny" BLACK served with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, and was assigned to the 869th Bomber Squadron, 497th Bomber Group Heavy. 2Lt. BLACK participated in the first B-29 Superfortress flights over Tokyo.

2Lt. BLACK was a crew member of the Superfortress #42-24598 "Waddy's Wagon" which was named in honor of pilot Capt. Walter R. "Waddy" YOUNG, a 1938 All-American end. The crew was included in a mission over the Nakajima Aircraft Factory located near Tokyo at Musashino, Japan. Lt. BLACK was the flight engineer.

While "Waddy's Wagon" was assisting and guiding a crippled B-29 back to safety, they came under attack from enemy fighters and "Waddy's Wagon" was severely damaged. It was ditched in the Pacific Ocean off of the coast of Japan. All eleven crew members were lost.

Lt. BLACK was officially declared deceased on January 10, 1946. He was awarded a Purple Heart and is memorialized at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Submission by Sharon R. Becker, September of 2013

Decatur Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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