03/03/2024
For sale or trade, a small grouping to KIA B-29 tail gunner Walter R Odgers of Avoca, Pennsylvania, 20th AF, 9th BG, 5th BS. Below will be included a brief history as well as newspaper clippings tying into the letter included in the grouping.
Enlisting in 1942, he started with ordnance at Aberdeen before switching to the air forces and going through gunners training at Tyndall Field in June before transferring to MacDill Field, where this letter is stamped from. Included is a telegram mentioning his extension for leave for Christmas time, the date stamps on the envelope being Dec 25th and 26th. One of the clippings also speak of his time on leave, dated December 10th 1943. By March 1945 he would be sent overseas with the 9th Bomb Group, 5th Bomb Squadron of the 20th Air Force based out of Tinian. Taking off on April 15th 1945 as the tail gunner of a B-29 for an incendiary bombing of Kawasaki Japan his aircraft, B-29 #42-93893 would experience an unknown issue and crash into the sea off Hashirimizu of the Kanegawa prefecture near the Tokyo Bay Area. Only one crew member survived, Sgt Allan K Hill, who was captured by Japanese soldiers and taken as POW. Walter is memorialized in his hometown of Avoca Pennsylvania as well as the Punchbowl cemetery in Hawaii.
I am asking $80 obo, or as stated this is for sale or trade of AAF, RAF, Naval Aviation, Armor, or MTO unit items. For sales I accept PayPal and buyer pays shipping.
As a side bit for an extra fee I will include the display case this was being display in to the buyer. Will be included with trades. Thanks for looking.
