Staff Sgt. J. R. Williams

793rd Bomb Squadron, 468th Bomb Group

Serving as a B-29 Superfortress gunner, Staff Sgt. J.R. Williams arrived in the CBI theater in April of 1944, with the 793 Bombardment Squadron of the 468th Bombardment Group. In the B-29, gunners are also given another role, and for Williams he was also the electrical specialist. Flying out of Kharagpur, India and Pengshan, China, Williams was on 22 missions logging more than 200 combat flight hours. In May 1945, the group moved to West Field, Tinian, where Williams added another 200 combat hours over 14 more missions. Assigned to be part of the crew of B-29 #42-6454, named Totin’ To Tokyo, it is unknown if Willams continued to be with the same crew after the airplane was retired in January 1945 as war weary, mainly due to having no center wing tanks as an earlier model Superfortress. The original Totin’ To Tokyo flew 13 combat missions and 6 Hump missions. A new B-29, #42-6350, was then named Totin’ To Tokyo II and assigned to the squadron in that same month. This aircraft flew 7 combat missions from India, and another 20 from Tinian. For his actions, Williams was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters.

Included below are some original photos, documents including a mission list as well as all of his citations for awards, as well as a few other items of significance.