Edward May began his career as a B-29 crewman with the 9th Bombardment Group (XXI Bomber Command). May had been trained as a bombardier and navigator, but served as tail gunner because he was the smallest member of the crew and could get through the narrow tunnel leading to the rear turret.
May was later transferred to the 504th Bomb Group to replace a fallen crew member and from there he was eventually transferred into the 509th Composite Group (the unit tasked with dropping both atomic bombs). May flew on one of the four planes that joined the Enola Gay on its mission over Hiroshima.
The following materials were contributed to JapanAirRaids.org by May’s nephew, Richard May.
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PDF Files:
I. Edward May Mission List, Map Plotting Mission Objectives, and Awarding of Distinguished Flying Cross.
Edward May Mission List, Map Plotting Mission Objectives, and Awarding of Distinguished Flying Cross
II. Incendiary Raid List (4 Feb-17 June) Containing Brief Details on Each Entry – From ‘War Journal – Ninth Bombardment Group, United States Army Air Force’
III. “Mitsubishi 193”. Mission narrative by Captain Don S. Midlam.
Mitsubishi 193, Mission Narrative by Capt Don S Midlam
IV. Navigator’s log and flight plan for B-29 flying “Dumbo” with the Enola Gay on its Aug. 5 (6th) raid against Hiroshima.
Nav-log and Flight Plan for Aug.5
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Photographs/Document Scans:
1 June 1945, Osaka, 313th Bombardment Wing. １９４５年、６月１日、大阪、第313航空団。
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Bombardier inside B-29, Ｂ２９機内の爆撃手。
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Tokyo, 東京。
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Gunner’s “flimsy,” Shimizu Raid, 6 July 1945, 尾部銃手用命令書、１９４５年７月６日、清水空襲。
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B-29 Aircrew Record of Combat, Ｂ２９乗組員戦闘記録。
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Weather report for 5 August 1945, １９４５年８月５日、天気予報。
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Handkerchief with printed appeal for assistance in seven languages, 七ヶ国語の印刷入り乗組員用ハンカチ。
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Handkerchief printed in Chinese, 中国語の文書入り乗組員用ハンカチ。