FO Thomas B. Rishel MIA/KIA B-29 South American made engraved wings

[rathbonemuseum.com]

One never knows the story they will learn when they pick up a biographical item. I bought a seemingly innocuous aircrew wing at the recent SOS as it was nicely hand made and had an engraved name on the back. The name engraved is T. B. Rishel. Searching revealed this is Thomas B. Rishel of Alexandria PA, a very small town near Altoona. After graduating, Thomas enlisted in the Army 7 December 1939, an ominous date, and joined the air corps. He started his service as an enlisted man, serving as an asst crew chief, aircrewman, and air gunner. His initial service had him with flying throughout South America and the Caribbean. This is likely where he acquired these wings as they feature his enlisted service number, which was soon to change. Thomas went on to become a Flight Officer on 5 December 1943. He subsequently became a flight engineer and joined a B-29 unit, the 769th BS/462nd BG. His unit initially set out for India and then China 12 October 1944. Once the island campaign conquered the Marianas, his unit transferred to the new field at Tinian where they flew raids on the home islands of Japan.

 

This is unfortunately where the story takes a tragic turn. On the night of 25-26 May 1945, the XXI BC targeted Tokyo for an incendiary raid. This would turn out to be the largest single loss of B-29s and crews in a single day, 26 in total. Unfortunately for FO Rishel, his plane 42-63521 went missing. No one saw or learned what happened to the ship. A year later, the crew were declared dead. 

 

FO Rishel flew 25 combat missions and earned the Army Good Conduct medal, American Theater with star, Asiatic Theater with 4 stars, Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He is remembered on the Honolulu National Cemetery in the Courts of the Missing. 

[Threewood]

Fantastic wing with a sad story. Thank you for sharing.

[Histres]

As always, excellently researched Tod.  

[pfrost]

Years ago, I had a chance to buy a very similar wing with that little nubby job for the catch. I walked away because I was a nitwit newbie... and 40$ for an aircrewman wing seemed expensive to me (again... nitwit newbie).  I have seen a few more of these and I am pretty certain that they are South American/Mexico made, but more often than now, when I do see them, someone is trying to sell them as CBI. 

 

Reallly neat wing.