"a B-32 name "Hobo Queen" "
Indeed! there were two B32s called "Hobo Queen" and "Hobo Queen II"
Involved in one of the last air combat actions over Japan:
"...Four B-32s from the 386th BS of the 312th BG based at Yontan, Okinawa were given a three-day photoreconnaissance
mission near the end of the War. On the third day of the mission, August 18, 1945, two aircraft were forced to turn back
and only two aircraft, the Hobo Queen and the Hobo Queen II made it to Japan. The mission involved photographing an
area north and east of Tokyo. The aircraft were unescorted, as the War was over for all practical purposes over.
As the two aircraft prepared to head home they were jumped by a large group of Japanese fighters including Imperial Navy
A6M2 Zeros and Army Ki44 Tojos. The first attacks occurred at 1:30 PM while the aircraft were at 20,000 feet. The enemy
planes made ten passes on the Hobo Queen II with little or no damage. About twenty-five passes were made at the Hobo
Queen, which was under the command of Lt. John R. Anderson. Seven passes were made at the tail of the B-32 and one of
the attackers blew-up. One fighter pass was made at the ball turret from below with no success, and another six were made
at the forward upper turret. About six more were made at the nose turret position, and several more at the upper rear turret.
Another enemy fighter blew up, and a third was scene going down smoking.
The pilots went to full mix and full throttle and power-dived the B-32 from 20,000 to 10,000 feet. The Hobo Queen absorbed
a lot of damage during these attacks. The radioman got the Hobo Queen II to regroup with the badly damaged Hobo Queen
to provide some cover. Three men were wounded including Sgt. Anthony J. Marchione, SSgt. Joseph M. Lacharite, and Sgt.
John T. Houston. Marchione and Lacharite were at the camera hatch at the rear of the aircraft when that section of the plane
was riddled. Both men were hit. Despite his own wounds, SSgt. Lacharite began administering first aid to Marchione, but a
second fighter pass wounded Marchione again. Despite the valiant efforts of his crewmates to keep him alive, Marchione
passed away at 2:00PM. Sgt. Marchione may have been the last USAAF combat casualty of the War. SSgt. Chevalier
administered first aid to SSgt. Lacharite during the long ride home.
Despite being unable to bank his aircraft due a feathered prop, Lt. Anderson got the Hobo Queen down successfully."
