Crew 5 City of Eagle Rock

Crew 5's story began at Smoky Hill AAF in Salina, Kansas, where many B-29 crews were formed. The crew assembled from various locations, including Great Bend and Pratt, Kansas, as well as other parts of the country, contributing to the formation of the 39th Bomb Group. Formed in early October 1944, Crew 5 was composed of men from across the U.S. Leading the crew was 1st Lt. Robert L. Spaulding, a confident and somewhat cocky young Californian from Eagle Rock. Despite his slim physique, Spaulding’s self-assuredness and decisiveness quickly earned respect. The pilot, 2nd Lt. Al Baldi, who had previously been paired with the author at Great Bend, was a first-generation American from Newark, New Jersey, with Italian roots. Crew 5 also included several bombardiers over its existence. Initially, Lt. William Badgely from Dayton, Washington served as bombardier but was soon replaced by Lt. Asa B. Edwards from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Edwards was later succeeded by Lt. William Hill, who was replaced by radar specialist Lt. Frank J. Folker when Hill was grounded. The navigator, Lt. Edward S. Edmundson Jr. from North Carolina, was the sole southerner on the crew. Though he faced a challenging start, Edmundson became an excellent navigator, notably saving the crew during a critical mission over Nagoya. Flight engineer M/Sgt. Glade A. Loy, originally from Oklahoma and now a Californian, transitioned smoothly from auto mechanic to aircraft engineer. His easygoing nature made him popular among the crew. The radio operator, Cpl. John F. Magirl from Omaha, Nebraska, was the youngest crew member. He was serious about his work but also known for his unique sense of humor, earning respect from his fellow crewmates. Central Fire Control Specialist T/Sgt. Robert Sands from Pennsylvania managed the gunnery procedures and was grounded after 17 missions due to medical reasons. His role was temporarily filled by left gunner Cpl. Claude "Bud" W. Alger from Waterport, New York, who replaced S/Sgt. Bob Laird, originally from Vermont. The other gunners were Cpl. Stanley Phillips from Monaca, Pennsylvania, S/Sgt. Bob Laird, and Cpl. Michael Revock from Cleveland, Ohio. All had started in the Cadet program but switched to gunnery after being "washed out." Finally, radar observer 2nd Lt. Frank "Bud" J. Folker from Bergenfield, New Jersey, was known for his warm personality and easygoing manner. He was later replaced by 1st Lt. Herman Marthaler Jr. from St. Paul, Minnesota, while overseas.

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