This is the story of the crew of a B-29 named Star Duster, eleven men who answered the call of duty when their country needed them in World War II. This crew, one of hundreds of crews called to serve, flew over 30 combat missions against the Japanese Empire to complete their tour of duty and were blessed to come home unhurt. These pages seek to inform you about what the missions aboard the Star Duster were like and what part they played in the overall picture of the war.
Although this material deals candidly with war, the point is to celebrate heros, not war. While it is sometimes necessary to to take up arms for the defense of country or to aid those who cannot defend themselves from an aggressor, war is tragic and all involved are victims in the end. It takes heros to fight a war, whether they are on the lines of battle or supporting from home. The sacrifices they made in the 1940s changed the course of history and made possible the way of life we enjoy today. What makes their service even more special is their modesty. They would not call themselves heros, they simply heard the call of duty and answered it.
Dedication
This story is dedicated to the crew of the Star Duster, the men who are my heros from World War II. They are:
- Wilfred N. Lind - Pilot
- Alvin R. Goebel - Co-Pilot
- Edward R. Marsh - Navigator
- Irwin S. Moskowitz - Bombardier
- James F. Zornes - Flight Engineer
- Charles J. Kenney - Radio Operator
- Richard T. Harman - Radar Operator
- Maurice E. Hanks - Central Fire Control (Top Gunner)
- Joe C. Swann - Right Gunner
- Robert J. Stangland - Left Gunner
- Achilles Stathas - Tail Gunner
I would also like to extend this dedication to some other B-29 veterans who have patiently answered my questions and told me of their experiences. They include James Krantz, William Agee, and Raymond "Hap" Halloran.
