World War II Honoree

David Cowden Campbell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Fort Wayne, Indiana

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 12 JULY 1941 AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON NEAR INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT PRATT ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 497TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 870TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 3 DECEMBER 1944, HE FLEW IN THE LEFT SEAT AS THE AIRPLANE COMMAND PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE A-SQUARE-30 (SERIAL # 42-63461). IT WAS ONE OF 86 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MUSASHINO AIRCRAFT WORKS AND NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS HEAVY AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE. HE WAS KILLED ON THE RETURN ROUTE, WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAIPAN.