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The Wedan Family; Steven, Liz, Autumn and Richard. (photo courtesy of Richard Wedan).


Commander’s journey on the less traveled road

The Wedan Family; Steven, Liz, Autumn and Richard. (photo courtesy of Richard Wedan).

Related Imagery
Veterans of the 6th Bomb Group stand with AFROTC cadets from the color guard of the University of Portland’s AFROTC Det 695, after the reunion banquet on 12 September 2015 in Portland, Oregon. From left to right are C/Capt Collin Whitney, Dick Randall, Ed Vincent, C/3C Jacob San Agustin, Virgil Morgan, C/Capt Joseph Baumann, Bob Frick, C/Capt Samuel DeWhitt and Warren Higgins. The 6th BG Association President, John Creek, Jr., looks on from the podium. (Courtesy Mr. Philip Conroy)
The 6th Bomb Group’s reunion banquet guest speaker was fighter pilot CAPT Marv Serhan, US Navy (Retired), at left, seen here talking with 6th Bomb Group B-29 pilot Mr. Warren Higgins after the banquet. (Courtesy Mr. Philip Conroy)
Veterans of the 6th Bomb Group pose for a picture in front of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon, on 11 September 2015. From left to right are Dick Randall, Ed Vincent, Virgil Morgan, Bob Frick and Warren Higgins. (Courtesy Mr. Philip Conroy)
The B-29 “Wun Wing Lo” was assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron. It was flown by the Capt. Harrison M. Harp, Jr. Crew, #40r4. Sgt Arthur H. "Art" Angel, a mechanic who worked on this airplane, recalled how the aircraft got its name after a truck ran into one of the wings, which was replaced. The replacement wing hung lower that the other wing, and the aircraft was then named. Mrs. Elaine Angel attended the 6th Bomb Group’s Portland reunion in honor of her late husband. (Courtesy Mr. John Potenza, via 6th Bomb Group Association)
Capt. Jeff Richards, aircraft commander of Crew # 3915, assigned to the 39th Bomb Squadron and flew B-29 Victor 30, "Son of a B-29" was one of the original crews and flew 35 combat missions. Members of aircrew and the servicing ground crew pose for a picture on Tinian during the war. Mrs. Glenda Richards attended the 6th Bomb Group’s Portland reunion in honor of her late husband. (Courtesy 6th Bomb Group Association)
Pictured here at Iwo Jima in 1945, “Flak Alley Sally,” was a Superfortress assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron, a B-29-55-BW, serial number 42-24878. Seen here refueling at Iwo Jima in 1945 following a raid on the Empire, she bears the early markings of the group with the “L” (6th Bomb Group identification letter) above a triangle (313th Bomb Wing identification symbol) above the aircraft serial number. The “33” is an early Victor number (group/squadron aircraft identification number also used as a radio call sign number), which was later moved to the rear fuselage and changed to “53.” (Courtesy 6th Bomb Group Association)
Aircraft Commander Ed Vincent completed 32 combat missions in charge of Crew 4012 assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron. The crew flew the Superfortress “Flak Alley Sally,” a B-29-55-BW, serial number 42-24878. In the front row, left to right are 1st Lt. Edgar L. Vincent (Aircraft Commander), 2nd Lt. Glenn Gormley (Pilot), 1st Lt. Herbert G. Horst (Bombardier), S/Sgt Joseph N. Rotondi (Radio Operator), 1st Lt. William G. Spellman (Navigator) and S/Sgt Walter H. Stull (Radar Operator) man Standing in the back row, left to right are S/Sgt Nathaniel B, Clark (Left Gunner), Sgt. Louis L. Chiquette (Tail Gunner), S/Sgt Gordon P. Brantman (Right Gunner), T/Sgt Leon Steward (Central Fire Control Gunner) and M/Sgt Charles W. Dougherty (Flight Engineer). (Courtesy 6th Bomb Group Association)
Pilot Warren Higgins flew half of his 22 combat missions with Crew # 3909 on “Reamatroid,” a B-29-55-BW Superfortress, serial number 44-69672, in the 39th Bomb Squadron. Note the absence of armament and the writing beneath the wing indicating the aircraft is flying on a PW supply mission. (Courtesy 6th Bomb Group Association)
Navigator Bob Frick flew many of his 31 combat missions with Crew # 3918 aboard “The Cultured Vulture,” a B-29-55-BW Superfortress, serial number 42-24901 assigned to the 39th Bomb Squadron. Note the early markings of the 6th Bomb Group, with the “L” on top of the tail, and the lack of the Jean Lafitte motif on the nose. This photo was taken at Iwo Jima on 10 March 1945, after “The Cultured Vulture” stopped for fuel following a raid on Tokyo and was preparing to return to Tinian. (US Army photograph, courtesy National Archives via Fold3)
Flight Engineer Morgan flew some of his 19 combat missions with Crew # 40r2 aboard Victor 54, also known as “Battling Betty,” a B-29-65-BW Superfortress, serial number 44-69847 assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron. (Courtesy Mr. Mark Furman, via 6th Bomb Group Association)
Mrs. Shirley Bates father Ralph C. Wilson was the aircraft commander of the Wilson Crew (Crew # 4007) of the 40th Bomb Squadron, who flew the Superfortress “White Mistress,” a B-29-50-BW, serial number 42-24776. (Courtesy Ms. Elizabeth Koch-Colson, via 6th Bomb Group Association)
Co-historian David Wilson’s father, Sgt. Bernard E. Wilson, was a left gunner the 24th Bomb Squadron’s in the Howett crew of Crew # 2404. The crew’s first missions were flown in “Big Joe,” with an experienced Aircraft Commander, pictured with them here, and then later they all flew in “Anonymous IV.” Standing, from left to right, are Sgt. Bernard E. Wilson (Left Gunner), Cpl. Jack B. Denny (Right Gunner), Cpl. Marion L. Long (Tail Gunner), Sgt. Malcolm W. Douglas (Flight Engineer), S/Sgt. Raymond E. Raetz (Central Fire Control Gunner), Sgt. James C. Bishop (Radio Operator). Kneeling, from left to right are 2nd Lt. Phillip R. Pilling (Radar Operator), 2nd Lt. Charles E. Pickett (Bombardier), 1st Lt. Claude A. Johnstone (Aircraft Commander of “Big Joe”), 1st Lt. John C. Howett (Pilot), 2nd Lt. James H. Aiman (Navigator). (Courtesy Mr. David Wilson, via 6th Bomb Group Association)