2LT John J Wright (1921-1945) - Find a Grave Memorial

Born John James Wright on 26 January 1921 at Newburgh, Orange County, New York to John Campbell Wright (1888-1959), and Adell (McCoach) Wright (1896-1928).

High School Class of 1939 Newburgh Free Academy in Orange County, New York.

Enlisted (32494275) as a Private in the Army Air Corps on 26 September 1942 at Utica, New York. Graduated from Bombardier and Navigation Schools, and was commissioned (0927701) a Second Lieutenant in the USAAF.

Bomb-Nav: O-927701John J Wright 2Lt NY 19-2-1945 B-29-45-BW #42-24692 Z-SQ-12

Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Walker Army Air Field near Victoria, Kansas. Deployed from Mather Field, California to the Central Pacific Theatre of Operations with stop-overs at John Rodgers Field, Hawaii and Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands.

On 18 November 1944, reported to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 500th Bombardment Group (VH), 881st Bomb Squadron stationed at Isely Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands, Pacific Theatre of Operations.

On 19 February 1945, he flew as the Bombardier- Navigator aboard a Boeing B-29-45-BW (Boeing Wichita) Superfortress, tail code: Z-Square-12 (serial #42-24692).

Note: according to Mann's Registry, "Wabash Cannonball" when Z-Square-8

As part of a diversionary strike in support of the invasion of Iwo Jima, it was one of 150 aircraft launched in multi-group formations to bombard the Musashino Aircraft Works near Tokyo, Japan. During the bomb run between Mt. Fuji and the target, a twin-engine Kawasaki Ki-45 “Nick” fighter plane dove into his aircraft just behind the wings and forward of the aft bomb-bay, causing it to break apart.

Excerpt from The 500th Bomb Group Day By Day – Part 2 - Combat

"2/Lt Osamu Hirosi, carefully positioned his twin-engine Ki-45 "Nick" ahead and above the bomber formation, picked his target, and dove almost straight down. The young Japanese pilot squarely struck the lagging Z-SQ-12 with the veteran Samuelson crew. 2/Lt Hirosi hit the bomber just behind the wing at the rear pressurized compartment. The Nick disintegrated and the B-29 broke in two, with the tail section further breaking up and the forward section heading vertically toward the ground trailing smoke and flames. About 10,000 or 15,000 feet below, the left wing broke off and what was left of the B-29 was then lost in the low clouds."

Z-SQ-12 was last sighted disappearing into the clouds below at a geographic location of 35+53N and 139+40E. He was killed when the aircraft crashed on Nishihara Village in Yamanashi Prefecture on the west side of Tokyo, Japan.