Parts of Crew 3 originated in Alamogordo. NM. It was here that they saw their first B-29. Just a few miles away, there was another well kept secret taking place - the testing of the first nuclear bomb at White Sands that would later play a prominent part in the war.

Shortly after, they were sent up to Smoky Hill Air Field at Salina, Kansas, where the formation of Crew 3 was completed. In January of 1945, they along with their Group took part in "Gypsy Task Force," at Batista Field Havana, Cuba. It was there in the Caribbean area that the 39th Group received its first and only training in over water flight. Upon completion they returned to Salina, then hopped, first, over to Topeka to pick up their B-29, then on to Herington (both in Kansas) for staging. Afterwards, it was off to North Field, Guam by way of Mather Field, CA, Hawaii, and Kwajalein.

On their flight over, their engineer, M/Sgt Edward Williams was replaced temporarily by Crew 5's flight engineer, M/Sgt Glade.Loy. Williams was held up in the States because of emergency appendectomy. Each rejoined their respective crews later on at Guam.

Crew 3 went on to fly 26 combat missions. Corp Arthur Ford, tail gunner, was grounded after their 3rd mission. On 9 June 1945, CFC gunner, Robert Clark, received word that his father had died six days earlier. After frustrated appeals to the Red Cross and other agencies, he was getting nowhere, so toward the end of June, he asked his mother to contact their Congressional Representative for assistance, Bob's problem finally worked its way through the military bureaucracy to Major Carpenter's desk. The following day, surprisingly, found him on his way to the States. As ordered, he had turned in all of his equipment to Supply - personal as well as Uncle Sam's - with the expectation he would be returning to Guam.

Things didn't work out that way, however. After a 30-day leave, a request for stateside duty was made, due to his mother's ill health and dependency upon this only son. Following a further trail of complications, it was decided that a discharge was in order, He reported to Jefferson Barracks, Missouri for final separation from the service.

For the next 46 years Bob wondered about the fate of his crew. Inasmuch, as everything he owned, names and addresses included had been left back on Guam, he had no way of knowing if they made it home safely.

In 1991, a week before the 39th Bomb Group reunion in Harrisburg, Bob read about the B-29 "Fifi," being in their home state of Iowa. He and his wife packed their bags and hurried off to Mason City. While visiting with the wife of a crewman on "Fifi, " she gave him a listing of upcoming Air Force reunions. Immediately, his eyes fell on the 39th get together a week hence. After recovering from the shock and still in a state of amazement, he got in touch with our association President, Jim Wyckoff. The rest is history. Bob has made up for lost time having renewed old friendships with several of his long-lost crew.

Meanwhile, Crew 3, continued with their missions. They were on R and R leave in Honolulu in early August when the A-bomb was dropped. After returning to Guam they flew six Generals to Okinawa and spent a few days there. Upon arrival back at Guam the crew was ordered to Saipan where they picked up a B-29 and returned to the States for discharge.