Pilot (right seat), Boeing B-29-40-BW Superfortress, serial #42-24600, tail code Z-Square-47, nicknamed Adam's Eve, 883rd Bomber Squadron, 500th Bombardment Group (VH), 73rd Bomb Wing, XXI Bomber Command, 20th Air Force, at Isely Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands; Pacific Theatre of Operations.

On 7 April 1945, Adam's Eve was one of 101 B-29 aircraft dispatched from the 73rd Bomb Wing to bombard the Nakajima Aircraft Plant at Musahino in Tokyo, Japan.

While over the target area, Z-47 was rammed by Japanese fighter pilot 2nd Lt. Mitsuo Oyake flying a single-engine Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (flying swallow). Lt Oyake fired on the bomber during several passes, but it did not catch fire. Lt Oyake then made a "taiatari" (body blow) ramming attack; breaking off Z-47's tail section (ref: Ki-61 and Ki-100 Acesby Nicholas Millan).

The B-29 aircraft crashed and burned in the Kugayama residentail area approximately 17 kilometers west of down-town Tokyo. All 11 airmen perished. Only the tail gunner, Corporal Miller, was rescued by nearby residents from the wreckage; but he died at the Kagogiyama Hospital.

The remains of ten bodies, recovered from the site, were buried in a joint cemetery in Komyoji Temple; located in the east side of Takaidama Dai 2nd Elementary School, Kugogiyama 4-Chome District.

Ref: MACR 13657

World War II Honoree (wwiimemorial.com)

George N Chaffin Jr