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Purple Heart to First 21st BC B-29 Lost


Trevor Arendall
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Trevor Arendall

This is the Purple Heart to Ralph C Banovicts. He was killed on the first bombing raid over Tokyo since the Doolittle raid on November 24, 1944. 

S/Sgt Ralph C Banovicts was the radio operator for the B-29 42-24622 “Lucky Irish” which was piloted by Lt Wagner. This B-29 unfortunately become famous on November 24, 1944 while on the first bombing raid over Tokyo since the Doolittle Raid. The “Lucky Irish” was one of 111 B-29s launched to bombard various targets in the Tokyo area. During the raid, 24 attacked the Musashino aircraft plant, 59 attacked port facilities and urban areas in Tokyo, 5 attacked targets of last resort, 17 aborted while in route to target and 6 were unable to release bombs because of mechanical problems. During the raid 2 B-29s were lost, B-29 gunners claimed 7 downed aircraft, 8 B-29s were damaged by ground fire and 3 were damaged from friendly B-29 fire. Personal losses are 1 killed, 11 missing (later declared dead) and 4 wounded. 
 

Of the two B-29s lost, one ditched (Tudor Crew) and one was shot down (Wagner crew). The “Lucky Irish” was flown by the Wagner crew. The book B-29 Superfortress vs. Ki-44 Tojo written by Donald Nijboer best explains what happened to the Wagner’s B-29. “Ki-44-IIs of the 47th Hikō Sendai caught the bombers over the target, with unit commander Maj Noburo Okuda raked B-29 42-24622 Lucky Irish of the 870th BS/497th BG, Flown by Sam Wagner, with 40mm cannon fire during a head-on attack. Moments later Cpl Yoshiso Mita Finished the job by ramming his Ki-44 into the B-29’s tail section. After he cut off the right stabilizer and elevator, his fighter burst into flames and fell from the sky. Lucky Irish went into a spin and eventually crashed nose first. There were no survivors.” 

 

The eleven men who lost their lives on the “Lucky Irish” are as follows 

Pilot - 1st/Lt Sam P Wagner 
Co Pilot - 2nd/Lt Ernest B Lopes
Navigator - 2nd/Lt Alvin R Hoffman
Bombardier - 2nd/Lt David J Schnaars
Engineer - 2nd/Lt Odne N Dahl
Radio Operator - S/Sgt Ralph C Banovicts 
Radar Operator - S/Sgt William Wendler 
Gunner - Sgt Elmer C Lindenstruth 
Gunner - Sgt Hubert D Wheeler 
Gunner - Cpl Cecil E Frederick
Gunner - Pfc Rex E Merritt

 

Not only would this day mark the

beginning of heavy bombing raids on Tokyo, it marked the first successful ramming attack by a Ki-44 and it also marked the first 21st Bomber Command B-29 lost to enemy action. 

 

Below are pictures of the Purple Heart, “Lucky Irish” crew and Cpl Yoshiso Mita.

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Trevor Arendall

The ramming attack of the “Lucky Irish” is captured on the bottom cover of the book B-29 Superfortress vs. Ki-44 “Tojo”

8F2A32BA-42A1-43BF-B32C-0E541644C16C.jpeg

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