1st Lt Billy Y. McCrary, sevice number 0-674696, who was lost in the Yellow Sea, September 8, 1944, on a mission to Anshan, China, while on a mission aboard a B-29 bomber, #42-6234. Three other crew were killed when they bailed out prematurely into the ocean, but seven who parachuted out over land were rescued and taken care of for a time by Chinese villagers, at great risk to the villagers given the Japanese occupation. The survivors were eventually returned to an American base. But of the men who bailed into the ocean, sadly no trace has ever been found.
Lt. McCrary was declared dead Feb. 25, 1946. Lt. McClary was from Chipley, Florida.
Billy McCrary attended the University of Florida, as in the image at the top from his junior year, class of '42, from the 'The SEMINOLE' 1941 (Vol. 32) yearbook.