Confusion on Dec 13,1944 499BG Losses

[kaki3152]

Leendert, Yes, I saw that picture. I just find it interesting hat some sources have 5 B-29s ditching on this date, while others only have 4 B-29s ditching. The B-29 Chronology by Robert A. Mann is very good but has a lot of mistakes, so its best to treat the information with caution. His other book "The B-29 Superfortress" also shows both 42-24638 AND 42-63439 as lost on December 13,1944. The entry for 42-63439 says "Crashed in sea off Japan" and the entry for 42-24638 says " Ditched from Nagoya".

[udf_00]

B-29 sur le JAPON - 3éme partie - Le 21th Bomber Command aux Mariannes.
Pp 51-54

42-24687 Z square 26 "Tokyo Local" 500th BG 882nd BS, ditched 18h00 110 kms from Japan (witnessed by Z square 2 crew)
42-63430 T square 1 498th BG 873rd BS, last message 22h20 before ditching (received by T square 2 radioman).
42-63447 V square 50 "Umbriago III" 499th BG 879th BS, ditched 140 Kms from Saipan (out of gas, all crew picked up by a destroyer)
42-63439 V square 47 "Beaubomber" 499th BG 879th BS, low on gas, asked for a landing priority, fell into Magicienna Bay during a turn.

42-24638 : guess it's a previously damaged aircraft which was deemed non-repairable and administratively struck off charge this day, but made flyable later on.