A Broad with Eleven Yanks Superfortress B-29

What does this header image have to do with Sedona Legend? It was found in a 80-year-old musty album with two words scrawled under it by TWA's Harriet Appelwick, “Wilks Crew”. Did she know a member of the flight crew? What does it mean? TWA Hostess Harriet Appelwick served as the executive stewardess to President of TWA Jack Frye's Lockheed Electra 12A, and later, his Lockheed Lodestar 18. After the Fryes, Harriet was to again serve on the Lodestar as the Hostess for Howard Hughes. Miss Appelwick's daughter, Hollis, shared this image with me which opened a haunting portal. Little was known about the men or the plane, but  it was found to be a Boeing B-29 Superfortress heavy bomber, which departed on a mission of which it would never return (Saipan to Izumi Air Base, Mariana Islands, 11 departed, only 10 rescued, 1 M.I.A. This said, 'From 1941 on TWA President Frye was working 24/7 with his contemporaries toward the war effort. This included committing all available TWA resources to serve our troops and personally setting up instruction centers to train U.S. servicemen to fly the larger support planes of the day. Many of the planes were airline flying stock previously unfamiliar to military pilots. One of the most famous facilities was the Eagle Nest Flight Center (more commonly known as the Jack Frye Training School) at Albuquerque, N.M. The training center became a invaluable asset for the United States Military in World War II, as based at Kirtland A.F.B. New Mexico. Have not been able to identify Northrop in this image (likely in back row, second from right). I found out today he was from Connecticut, his body was never recovered. (Service number was O-393187, served with 499th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, 877th Bomber Squadron, Purple Heart and Air Medal). Honored at the National Cemetery at Honolulu, miracle that 10 survived. Northrop Cemetery at Honolulu, miracle that 10 survived. Northrop was likely about 20-25 when he died, wonder how many realize (today) how many boys never saw adulthood while dying for our freedom. Also of interest was a severe shortage of TWA pilots and TWA personnel during WWII because so many were contributed to the war effort. This is their story!

Dedicated to All Men who served in the Pacific Theater & Those Who Never Returned

In the last year, I closed all my Sedona Legend web-work in order to start a new more consolidated effort here at www.sedonatwa.org. I backed-up a majority of the files, but unfortunately, my work dedicated to the Facebook Group, "The Broad With Eleven Yanks" was in part misplaced. Because I don't want to lose all this effort, I'm faced with the arduous task of re-creating all the information here, admittedly, it will take some time. Do I have all the missing answers to this mystery? Yes, just scattered in and around many files. These images show TWA Executive Hostess Harriet Appelwick sitting on tail of Frye's TWA Lodestar NC33604, and M.I.A., Douglas Clinton Northrop

Douglas Clinton Northrop (M.I.A.)

Promoted 'Commander' Saipan Island, 499th BG, (01/22/1944)

877th Bomb Squad, 499th Bomber Group

B-29 Superfortress, 42-24698

Awarded Air Medal & Purple Heart

Bailed out 1 mile offshore of East Agrihan Island (Marianas Group) or on island 

Missing Air Crew Report, 14334 (NARA)

No evidence, as yet, that A-Broad With Eleven Yanks (which developed Number 1 engine failure) was hit by any enemy fire. The engine caught fire, crew attempted to feather, no success, the engine became an infernal. During this emergency, Lt. Col. Douglas C. Northrop ordered bailout over the interphone, after the men bailed, the plane veered off and crashed into Agrihan Island (a volcano). No trace of the plane was found, and searches for Northrop were unsuccessful. U.S. Marines searched the island in 1953. The conclusion was that the bomber crashed into the deep water off this island and just appeared to hit the mountain. Witnesses saw parachutes and the engine explode minutes after they all bailed.

Images as appearance: 499th Bomber Group at Saipan, B-29 serial 42-63483 (V-square 11) of the 877th Bomb Sq. 499th Bomber Group, lost 20 miles off the coast of Japan, April 25, 1945, B-29, Serial 4224654, Wichita Witch of the 874th Bomb Squadron, 498th Bomber Group. Images posted as related to 499th Bomber Group, Marianas, thought to be U.S. Military Public Domain

Notes to process:

Memorialized at: Honolulu Memorial, Location: Honolulu, HI, USA 

Awards: Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Douglas Clinton Northrop, B.A. 1936. Born July 2, 1913, m Glenbrook, Conn. Missing in action April 27, 1945, in the northern Marianas Islands. Presumptive date of death April 28, 1945. Father, Louis Leroy Northrop, associated with United States Post Office, Stamford, Conn; son of George Washington and Mary (Lockwood) Northrop of Stamford Mother, Jennie Anna (Nowak) Northrop; daughter of John and Thekla (Lucas) Nowak of Norwalk, Conn. Stamford High School and King School, Stamford. Scholar of the second rank Junior year; oration appointment Senior year; Freshman Track Team, Freshman Football and Basketball squads; University 150- pound Football Team Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years (co-captain Senior year), member Saybrook College (basketball team Junior and Senior years). Delivery manager Western Union Telegraph Company, Stamford, 1936-37, teacher and athletic coach Somerset Hills Preparatory School, Far Hills, N.J, 1938-39; member St. John's Church (Episcopal), Stamford Unmarried Enlisted as aviation cadet, U S Army Air Corps, August 14, 1939; primary training Parks Air College, basic and advanced training at Randolph and Kelly fields; commissioned Second Lieutenant, Air Corps Reserve, May 14, 1940; assigned to 49th Bombardment Squadron, Langley Field, May, 1940-August, 1941; stationed with 41st Reconnaissance Squadron in Newfoundland August, 1941-November, 1942; promoted First Lieutenant November 1, 1941, and Captain March 1, 1942; stationed in England with anti-submarine patrol November, 1942-March, 1943, promoted Major January 7, 1943; transferred to Africa March, 1943, and returned to the United States June, 1943; assigned to 877th Bomber Squadron, Smoky Hill Army Air Field, in May, 1944; awarded Air Medal; went overseas in September, 1944; commanding officer 877th Bomber Squadron, 499th Bomb Group, Saipan, about September, 1944, Yale College i6j until April, 1945; promoted Lieutenant Colonel November 6, 1944; pilot of the first B-29 Superfortress to drop a bomb on Tokyo November, 1944 Lieutenant Colonel Northrop was on a mission to Kyushu, Japan, April 27, 1945, when his plane developed engine trouble and caught fire The crew bailed out and all were picked up except Colonel Northrop who was not found The presumptive date of death was fixed as April 28, 1945. Survived by parents and a brother, Arthur Leroy Northrop of Stamford.

'73rd BW, 499th BG, 877BS, MACR 14334, Boozer crew, 27 April 1945. Target Izumi Airfield, Mission=Bullish 5. 22 B-29s. 15,800-17,700 feet. Flak. Bailed out at Agrigan, 10 of 11 survived.'