5.Introduction of American's poet John Ciardi

I met Mr. Kenneth Fine through The Leading Lady this time. He asked me whether to know the United States "Poet John Ciardi".
He was very an amusing fellow according to the comment(Note 1) on mail and Edwin D Lawson of Kenneth Fine. He belongs to the same 882 flight squadrons(Note 2), and says that his crew completely Leading Lady.

Ciardi lived in the same Quonset hut as Sgt.Levin(Lawson), Hedges, Yanik, Dreyer, and Hunt and Nighan in Saipan. Then, he kept the diary from Nov 5.1944 to March 10.1945. This diary is edited when postmortem of him. It was published as Saipan: The War Diary of John Ciardi by University of Arkansas Press, Fayettavill, and Ar & London in 1988.
Many of the descriptions are own of done fight and Ciardi inside fights. He had written the book on 40 poetrys again before the life. Two of them treats Saipan.

I judged that the diary of Ciardi accurately described a full detail of a situation at that time from their information. Because he made a sortie to the air raid of Jan 3.1945 in Nagoya by the same seven formation as The Leading Lady. The description is said writing as if he was inside the plane. The following machine of The Leading Lady has Ciardi. And, it seems that the fighter of Japan had him from the field emplacement of B29 for the aim of Machine gun. It is said that the fighter of Japan doesn't bring it close if the machine gun in the post is checked, and the nose is put up to the field emplacement.

It was convinced I was to read "Saipan: The War Diary of John Ciardi" by the truth of Jan 3.1945 The Leading Lady.

Then, When I click the foreign book of 『amazon.co.jp』 of Online mail order.

"Amazon.co.jp" will deliver the book in three-five weeks by an English original. I ordered immediately.

Note 1: Ciardi and Chance: Comments on Sipan: War Diary of John Ciardi/Edwin D.Lawson/Psychology is honored.
Note 2: 21BC/73BW/500BG/882ＢＳ(Seven formation of Maj.Hurlbutt pilot)

---

6. Revive ! "The Leading Lady"

The Leading Lady was shot down to the forest of Sodame, WW �U ended, and years of 60 years passed. My B-29 Recollection also passed under the time tunnel of 60 years.

"Sodame B-29" is opened to the public with Website, and five years have passed. Mail that I had received from Japan-U.S. reached many hundreds of. I wish to express my gratitude to you of the website visit and a lot of giving information people.

I got email from the bereaved family of The Leading Lady. The photograph of the crew who had scattered to Sodame was able to be opened to the public. 11 dying crew were able also to leave for the journey course of IT. Please look at the world where 60 years pass minutely. And, please point out the problem. I want to make this year of the 60th end of the war anniversary year when The Leading Lady revives.

Parties concerned including the bereaved family of The Leading Lady of the United States also draw a hot desire. I learnt the event of "Sodame B-29". Such a sad event reaches even 400 or more even if it is B-29 called a superfortress.

On the other hand, the people in Japan at that time were put by a defenseless ship, and became targets of the torpedo of the U.S. Navy. A little survivor becomes a leader, and it searches for comrade-in-arms's remains in The Pacific Ocean now. WW �U ended, and the B-29 crew expected that the war never occurred. However, B-29 was greatly taken an active part in the Korean War after the six years. And, 23.000 total made a sortie. And, the bomb of the weight that equaled a bombing in a Japanese mainland was dropped. It is said that two million person Korean peninsula was sacrificed.

Finally, it is asking to you who visit. It is thought that can it learn to the tragedy of B-29, the peace of the world be wished to become the weaponless earth and the earth where the war doesn't occur, and it act. I think that it will hold a funeral for the soul of 11 people to which it scatters by "Sodame", and The Leading Lady will revive.

7. "The Leading Lady" crew's grave marker

May 27.2008 I received mail from Mr. Jeff Danby of United States Ohio state living.
He says that he will send the photograph of the grave marker of which it took a picture with Zachary Taylor National Cemetary of Louisville Kentucky on May 11, 2008.

It is said that the reason was anxious about the grave near the grave of the grandfather who was killed at Aug 27.1944 in the south French front of the U.S. army panzer (Tank Battalion), examines, and knew your Site.

I respectfully publish the photograph of "The Leading Lady" crew's grave marker. Name, class, and killed day JANUARY 3.1945 of 11 people at the time of which it was killed are carved for the grave marker.





"Introduction of Mr. Jeff Danby"
It introduces Website that he is editing.
Revering.. was written to the grandfather.
"Day of the Panzer"

The grandfather went to the front.
"The 756th Tank Battalion"

8.Further news of Harold T Hedges sole survivor of The Leading Lady (Email from granddaughter)

Apr 14.2012, Email of "My grandfather was Harold T Hedges" granddaughter was coming from.
12 Years of the year had passed since the public the B-29 Website.
In the meantime, information about him,
According to the information Ray 'Hap' Halloran (Died Jun 2011) on Jun 2002,

1) Omori POW camp was in with him until the end of the war.
2)Were alive in Oklahoma until 1964.
Was limited to these information.

Introduction of email from granddaughter

1)1st mail (Apr 14,2012.)
My grandfather was Harold T Hedges. I read on the page that the survivor was Harold T Hedges.
In died in November 1979(56-year-old) from cancer in a texas cancer hospital.
He had 2 children with his first wife and 2 children with his second wife.
My father was his first born with Harold's second wife.
He owned his own food brokerage company before he died.

2)2nd mail (Apr 15,2012.)
I would rather the information stand correct on the website.
I did not include names so if you would like to update the site I give permission.
I found the site by accident after I found out the name of his plane.
I feel closer to him with every piece of information I find.
I was born in 86 so I didn't get to know him any other way.
I just hear stories. Some of them offen me like on his tombstone my grandmother placed his birth year 20 later than when he was born because she was big on appearances.

3)3rd mail (Apr 19 2012)
I only live here temporarily.
my pictures are in OKla storage and no one can get to them.
Everybody knows I am in Germany but they also know I'll be home soon since my husband who is active duty army will be stationed somewhere in the states soon.
I'm find a picture I can send but it will have to wait. I'm not going to have my storage disorganized

9,Introduction of "The Leading Lady" another one of the survivors Edwin D.Lawson (Levin) 　( 70th anniversary of the end of World War II Memorial)

The Leading Lady "original crew and was the Edwin D. Lawson of CFC gunner, Sergeant is, the Japanese army of surprise bombing of Saipan airfield that divided the life and death of the (2 Jan.1945) incident, he managed HP 500th Bomb Group B-29 Memorial of diary "Day by Day-Combat" and to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World war II will introduce.

Introduction,
At the end of the war 70 anniversary B29 Wings of Marianas Reunion, please refer to the commemorative photo of everyone who participated in the Washinton, DC.

Front row far right is the Edwin D. Lawson 92-year-old /May 2016. He is between until the end of the war, was sortie in total 29 times B-29, After his discharge is to contribute to the education becomes a professor of returning to school and psychology, State University of New York professor emeritus now also, and his later years, as veterans, to award the social contribution was recognized various Lifetime Achievement Award as an educator, He is currently a social contribution, such as managing the HP of the veterans of the B-29 500BG.

This photo is a veteran of everyone who survived finished the mission of Japan sortie from the Mariana Islands as a crew of B-29 to 70 years ago.

Their victorious nation also, there was a Japanese sortie 30 times of the obligation. They are frightened to fear of death to the time of the sortie, they had reached the end of the war is eagerly praying safely survived.

From this photo, please imagine their end of the war 70 anniversary of thought. They, when they reached the end of the war, with delight and ended the war anymore in this Homecoming was, but then the Korean War and the very that was disappointed the Vietnam war.

In particular, "The Leading Lady" Edwin D.Lawson which was the original crew of, think of to pass away fellow will never disappear. Crew of the B-29 is said to be "Same boat", their bond is forever.

I to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, to introduce him to this page, I wanted to convey his thoughts to the war dead.

Next, I will introduce a newspaper article in the special issue "After the war 70 years air raid" Feb 25,2015 of the Yomiuri Shimbun.

This article will be posted because it is written is think of the war and fellow Edwin D.Lawson. I'm sorry in Japanese of the article.

In addition, this article I will introduce him to the reporters, it will be posted at the end so was published in the morning edition of Feb 25,2015.

Photo Source：HP 500th Bomb Group B-29　Memorial >,
HP administrator Edwin D Lowson & photo providers Sandra Ann Gillard authorized,

As he was described in Section 2 crew introduction, He is, "The Leading Lady" has become a mission of runway guard on the eve of that sortie from Saipan to Nagoya air raid. Debris of the bomb in the Japanese Army of surprise bombing becomes hospital feed for penetrating the left ankle, successor, it became the Richard P.Steinberg corporal (gunner).

Please read a copy of the Edwin D.Lawson it is "divided the life and death 2 Jan 1945 diary" Day by Day-Combat ".

B-29 crew Edwin D, Lawson Yomiuri Shimbun (Newspaper) debut

Information : Feb 25.2015 Yomiuri morning edition nationwide version of the "Post-war 70 years air raid" than feature article,

It referred to a description of his this article.

Edwin Lawson of the State University of New York Professor Emeritus of the United States, at the age of 21, boarded the B-29 as a gunner of machine gun

Sortie before, Life of a fellow from his superiors in Pearl Harbor and the Philippines have been deprived. Execution of the mission was told that it can defend the country and family.

And sortie 29 times Yokohama,Kobe and Fukuoka such as the air raid, The sky went black even in daytime in black smoke rising, but had never doubts.

However, after the retirement in 1989, it became the various think so and proceed with the investigation and leave to record that fellow crashed during operations.

To each other, what a lot of sacrifice as it was needed? I ask myself is continuing.

This article, progress in coverage for which I have informed the email address of Edwin to newspaper reporter,

Feb 25.2015 Yomiuri Shimbun (newspaper) copy

Editor's Note:
While editing this article, G7 summit was held in Japan of Ise Shima. Obama President of the United States in the afternoon of the end date Hiroshima Peace Park was visited.

And, While his term is approaching and after eight months, toured the Atomic Bomb Museum and (about 10 minutes), he laid flowers to the cenotaph for A-bomb victims.

And, He mourn the victims, there is no threat of nuclear disarmament and nuclear, He was anxious to future free of nuclear weapons humanity.
This news was flowing in the world. That lead to a world without nuclear weapons, crave along with the visit of everybody and the B-29 veteran.

Kunio Okada May 27.2016

10.Message from Edwin's, To the Z-22, (Posted the full text of the message)

　　 ( Jun 2016 I received a valuable message from Mr Edwin D Lawson.
Please read the thoughts of his peace by all means )

-----It is over 70 years since the end of WWII. Kunio Okada has devoted a great deal of time and skill to describing the role of the B-29 during World Two. He has prepared several websites that are in Japanese and English that describe the crew of Z Square 22 and what happened on January 3, 1945 near Toyota. Among many other contributions, he shows the shrine erected for the crew members. His sites are sympathetic and non-judgmental.

-----Now, he has invited me to write something to the bereaved families of Z Square 22, the aircraft that went down over Nagoya on January 3, 1945. I have suffered from survivor syndrome since that date. Almost every day, I think of the crew that I trained with for so many months, that was lost. After the war, when I returned home, one of first things I did was to visit six of the families to offer my condolences.

-----About ten years ago, I learned about the World War II Memorial in Washington. I immediately looked for the names of the men on Z Square 22. The National Archives are linked to the World War II Memorial. I also looked there. Much to my chagrin, I found a few of the men were listed in both places, as they should have been, but some were in one and not in the other. There was one, at least, that was on neither.

-----I contacted the people with the WWII Memorial add the proper entries. I had limited success, very limited. The National Archives staff was also of little help. From fellow veterans, I learned that there were many other men who were not listed. Perhaps, much of the incomplete records situation is due to the disastrous fire in St. Louis in 1973 where most WWII Servicemen’s’ records were destroyed. Or, was it bureaucracy?

-----Working with Donald Thurow, a fellow veteran from the 882nd and two sons of veterans of our squadron, James Bowman and Kenneth E. Fine, we formed the 500th Bomb Group Memorial Association to remember the fallen. We began building a data bank. That data bank became a website that gave much detail on all the men of our original bomb group. The website features the Honor Roll, citations for medals, crew photos (air crew, ground crew, and others) as well as many other photos. Another project of the Associaton was to add the names of all members of the 500th who went down included in the World War II Memorial.

-----What lessons can be learned from World War II and the terrible losses on both sides? Our sons and daughters, and their sons and daughters, must learn more about the causes of war and how to prevent them. But is that enough? I would say no. I would say that it is necessary as citizens to be active and vigilant to be informed about what our leaders are doing. We should express our feelings for peace to our leaders. Only then, will the loss of World War II gallant soldiers not be in vain.

-----Kunio Okada is one of those who has stepped forward to work for peace and reconciliation. He has inspired and continues to inspire others. I thank him for giving me the opportunity to send this msg. May his work continue.

Contributing Author : Edwin D. Lawson , Jun 2016

To Dear Edwin,
Thanks for the message

I wish that you think of the peace of your great message is delivered to the war dead and the bereaved families of the Z-22.

I wish your health and world peace.

Editors: Kunio Okada, Jun 28 2016

11.Obituary of Edwin D. Lawson (Ed) ・ 1923.12-2021.7.3 97 years old

I saw Ed's Facebook and found out about your obituary in a family post. You treated me 15 years younger like an old friend and provided a lot of information through the B-29. Also, I have been taught the action guidelines necessary for world peace. Thank you very much, please sleep peacefully. Below is a picture of Ed and I would like to celebrate your 97 years of life. I pray for your soul

・・・I pray for your soul ・・・

Returns to top page of B-29. ***