Lt. Glenn A. Stout

Obituary

Class of 1940

1923 – Feb. 1945

2nd Lt Glenn A Stout (Co-Pilot) was killed in the crash of a B29 Bomber assigned to the 504th Bomb Group, US Army Air Force on Tinian Island, Northern Marianas during WWII. The bomber was on a test flight preparing for bombing runs on Japan that started in late February 1945.

Kaz Barcynski, Historian for the 504th Bomb Group notes: “There were actually 13 on that flight (Capt. Miller as Observer) and 5 survivors, which included Capt. Miller, Cpl Burr, Cpl Bender, Cpl Klorian, and Cpl Miller.” Excerpts from a firsthand report by Cpl Michael Kloian, LH Gunner follows:

“On, or about February 26, 1945, our Commander or Pilot 1st Lt. William Harris told us at a crew meeting that an Operational officer, Maj. Dwyer, was assigned to check us out. Our plane was checked, fully prepared, loaded with ammo, gas, “something” put in the Bombay and readied for the test flight.

The crew on that flight, in addition to Major William P. Dwyer, their positions, name and rank to the best of my memory were:

Op. Officer William P. Dwyer Maj
Observer M. J. Miller Capt.
Pilot William J. Harris, Jr. 1st Lt
Co-Pilot Glenn A. Stout 2nd Lt
Navigator Harold E. Armstrong 2nd Lt
Flight Eng. Paul J. Pope T/Sgt
Bombardier Harry A. Rice F/O
Radio Op. Richard A. Zielinski Cpl
Radar Op. Barry Burr Cpl
CFC Gunner Francis J. Franey Cpl
RH Gunner Fred A. Bender Cpl
LH Gunner Michael M. Kloian Cpl
Tail Gunner Wilbur S. Porter Cpl

In reporting to the officers from my LH Gunner position during our maneuvers, and especially the landing only, Bill Harris, or Glenn Stout responded. I recall that when we completed our test flight and approaching the field (North Field) that we reported our flaps and wheels down. Then something strange happened just before landing. I reported that our wheels were going to hit a large boulder and/or a rise just before the landing strip. It was too late. When we did hit, our plane nosed down and crashed onto the field.

Our plane was still fully loaded with ammo and, as I recall, about 8,000 gallons of gasoline. When the crash stopped, the plane immediately engulfed in flames. The Tail Gunner (Willie) Porter and Radar Operator Barry Burr got out immediately, without severe injury and, to the best of my knowledge, were reassigned to active duty.

The RH Gunner, Fred Bender, got out next but was severely burned, as the Center Compartment area around the plane was engulfed in flames. I tried vainlessly to get our CFC Gunner (Frank) out of his chair, but he was stuck and, I believe, unconscious. As I headed for the rear door the plane seemed to be on an upward incline. When I reached the door, I jumped into the flames and, somehow, crawled to fresh air and safety.

I saw Fred standing next to another person by a jeep and went to them. We watched helplessly while the plane was in total flames. No one could possibly get near it. The ammo, by this time was popping off and it was extremely dangerous to even be around the area.”

A virtual cemetery for those killed in the crash can be viewed at the following web address: Findagrave (Bio: Michael Zumalt)

From Find a Grave